Unbeaten Raiders Defeat Broad Run

By Paul Tenorio

Originally published at 12:01 a.m., September 25, 2007
Updated at 1:28 p.m., September 25, 2007

Before last night’s volleyball match between top-ranked Loudoun County and Broad Run, players traded text messages counting down the minutes until the opening serve.

Several of the girls play with each other on club teams, but they also understood the magnitude of the match since the teams were undefeated coming in.

There was strong play from the stars on both sides of the net, from the serves of Broad Run’s Lauren Sears, to the strong offensive play of Loudoun County’s Morgan Petkovich and Marguerite Hanna. In the end, Loudoun County held firm against a Broad Run team that refused to go down easily, winning in four games, 25-18, 16-25, 25-22, 25-16.

The Raiders (8-0, 4-0 Dulles District) were led by Villanova-bound Petkovich, who had 13 kills, 15 service points and 14 digs, and Hanna, who added nine kills, nine digs and six service points.

“We knew it was going to be a tough match,” Loudoun County Coach Jenica Matthias said. “I thought that we played awesome defense with our blocking and our digs. That was a weakness we were trying to push through, and I was real excited with the girls tonight.”

After the Raiders jumped to a 1-0 lead behind the play of Hanna and Petkovich, it was Broad Run (8-1, 3-1) that came out for the second game with a strong energy that overwhelmed Loudoun County. Senior Brooke Bauernfeind led the way for Broad Run, scoring several times with a powerful outside hit for which Loudoun County had no answer.

“She has one of the most powerful hits, I think, in the county,” Broad Run Coach Susan Dezzutti said. “She’s a smart player. She knows when to go line, she knows when to go cross court, she knows when to drop those balls for the little roll shots and she did. She’s a go-to girl. If you need a quick point you go to Brooke and she’ll give it to you.”

With the score tied at 1, the third set was the most intense. Loudoun County stormed to an eight-point lead until Sears stepped back to serve.

The Broad Run junior’s jump serve was nearly unstoppable and the Spartans charged back with eight straight points to tie the set.

“Count it for Lauren Sears,” Dezzutti said. “She has got one of the best jump serves, I think by far in the county, state, you name it. We rely a lot on her serving and she has done a fantastic job for us up to this point and did a fantastic job in this game and brought us back in that third match.”

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Loudoun County defeats Broad Run

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Loudoun County players, (L-R) Marguerite Hanna (#3), Morgan Petkovich (#11), Sara Reilly (#16), Katie Martin(#14) and Rochelle Latka (#7, top right) celebrate their lead in the 3rd game, which they won. (Richard A. Lipski)

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Loudoun County's Sara Reilly (center) and teammate Morgan Petkovich (right) block the shot of Broad Run's Brooke Bauernfeind (background left) in the third game. (Richard A. Lipski)

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Loudoun County's Morgan Petkovich serves to Broad Run. (Richard A. Lipski)

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Loudoun County's Marguerite Hanna (#3) shoots past the outstretched arms of Broad Run's Kristen Burt ( #26, left) and teammate Lauren Sears. (Richard A. Lipski)

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The Raiders caught new life after a Sears serve landed slightly out of bounds, and took control of the game and eventually the match.

“I think pulling out that third game helped us get all of our momentum to push through and win,” Matthias said. “Lauren’s jump serve was hurting us at the moment, and luck drew it out of bounds, and we were able to get ourselves together and push through to win the third game.”

For the Raiders, who faced some softer opponents early in the season, pulling out a tough win against a district opponent was important.

“I think it gives us more confidence to play every team,” Petkovich said.

OTHER NOTES:

Helping Hands: Loudoun County junior Katie Martin had 16 assists, and junior Kerry Sarver added 15 assists. Broad Run was led by junior Kristen Burt, who registered 37 assists on the night.

Coming in Strong: Entering the match, Loudoun County had dropped just one game the entire season, sweeping all other matches, while Broad Run had dropped just two games in its eight wins.

Tagged: high school sports

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