Raiders Improve to 20-0

By Paul Tenorio

Friday, October 26, 2007

On a night when its seven seniors were honored for their contributions to the program, No. 1 Loudoun County followed those veterans to a three-game sweep over rival Heritage, capping a perfect 20-0 regular season.

The Raiders were led by senior Marguerite Hanna (10 kills, 11 digs, 4 blocks) and Villanova-bound Morgan Petkovich (8 kills, 11 digs, 6 service points) in a match in which they were never able to shake off a determined Heritage team.

Photo: John McDonnell

Heritage's Lion Bernett dives for a serve.

“We didn't want this to be an upset and it really could have been because with this being [senior night] there were so many emotions that we had to push aside,” Hanna said. “Heritage played the best I've seen them play and it was huge for us to get the win.”

The two teams battled back and forth throughout the match, with neither team leading by more than six points at any time. In the first game, Loudoun County fell behind 8-7 before rallying to take a 20-15 lead. But Heritage fought back and pulled to 22-21 before kills from junior Shaylin O'Connell and sophomore Julianne Hanna gave the Raiders a 25-23 win.

Loudoun County then took the second game 25-20 behind the strong play of Marguerite Hanna, Petkovich and O'Connell before battling through another close game 25-23 to win the match.

“It's going to be [the seniors] that pull us through,” Loudoun County coach Jenica Matthias said. “And that's why I said to our girls, look to your seniors, go to your seniors because they will make plays for you. And that's what happened.”

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