Raiders' 47-Match Win Streak Ends

Heritage Wins in 5 to Force Playoff for District Title

By Paul Tenorio

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Two years ago, Loudoun County came into the Heritage gym and won the final match of the regular season, forcing a playoff and beginning a winning streak against its crosstown rival that was still alive entering last night's Virginia AA Dulles District finale.

But with the district title on the line in front of a packed gym in Leesburg, Heritage (18-1, 13-1) returned the favor, downing the No. 2 Raiders in five games - 20-25, 25-22, 25-21, 22-25, 15-12 - snapping Loudoun County's 47-match streak and forcing a playoff for the regular season title tomorrow at Park View.

"It feels great," Heritage Coach Carmel Keilty said. "County obviously is a phenomenal team and I don't take anything away from them. It was a dogfight the whole time. But you know what? My kids came to play. And nobody's really believed in Heritage volleyball except me and my coaching staff. I'm so proud of these kids."

The match started with Loudoun County (19-1, 13-1) looking as if it would continue its dominance, jumping to a commanding 23-12 lead in the first game. But Heritage battled back all the way to 24-20 before falling.

Heritage trailed early in the second game but didn't fade, trading points with Loudoun County, looking sharp all around the court in its passes and sets before pulling ahead.

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Heritage Volleyball Downs Loudoun Co.

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With a lively crowd behind them, the Heritage bench celebrates the Pride's five-game win. (John McDonnell)

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Heritage's Ashley Scott drives down a point agianst Loudoun County's Emliy Vandergrift. (John McDonnell)

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Loudoun County's Kerry Sarver, left, and Juliane Hanna vie for a shot on Thursday against Heritage. (John McDonnell)

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Heritage's Ashley Scott drives a point agianst Loudoun County's Emliy Vandergrift, center, and Shaylin O'Connell, left. (John McDonnell)

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"We talk to each other in the circle" after the first game, said Heritage's lone senior, Ashley Scott, who was dominant in the match, finishing with 19 kills. "I really wanted them to pick it up and understand that we wanted to win and wanted to do well."

In the third game, Heritage continued to build on its momentum, capitalizing on several Loudoun County mistakes to take a commanding 9-1 lead. Though Loudoun County pulled back to within 19-16, it couldn't recover fully and Heritage took the game and the 2-1 lead in the match.

With the Pride faithful growing raucous, Loudoun County remained composed and pulled out a back-and-forth fourth game behind kills from Shaylin O'Connell and Rochelle Latka.

But with the Pride holding a slim 12-11 lead in the final game, Heritage found an edge behind two sophomores who had been forces all night: Emma LeMaitre and Lian Bernett, who registered the Pride's final three points to secure the win and set off the celebration.

Notes: Loudoun County’s win to force a playoff two seasons ago was the first of four consecutive wins over Heritage that season — the Raiders won the playoff and in the district and regional tournaments. ... The Raiders won the first game on a controversial call that was eerily similar to the decision on which they won the state title last season. A Raiders kill hit off the leg of the line judge in the back right corner, and though it looked like it may have been out because of where the official was standing, the ball was ruled inbounds.

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks