Loudoun County Continues to Roll

Hosts Beat Cave Spring, Win Raider Classic

By Matthew Stanmyre

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Loudoun County has only four players on its volleyball team who were on the team two years ago when it was last defeated, in the 2006 Virginia AA championship match by Cave Spring.

When their previous loss occurred, the Raiders were in the middle of their ascension toward the top of the volleyball landscape. Two years later, with yet another new cast of players, Loudoun County is showing it is a program here to stay. Yesterday, the second-ranked Raiders posted a convincing 25-17, 14-25, 25-22, 25-19 victory over visiting Cave Spring at the Raider Classic in Leesburg.

Loudoun County (14-0), the 2007 AA champion, has won 42 matches in a row and 69 of its past 72. The Raiders returned only two starters from last year's undefeated team - which boasted four players who are now competing in college - but remain the heavy favorite to win its third straight Region II title, and perhaps another state championship.

Loudoun County beat Western Albemarle, 25-15, 25-13, 25-18, in its other match of the tournament yesterday.

"We should win every game," said Loudoun County middle hitter Shaylin O'Connell, who had eight kills and five blocks against Cave Spring. "We're so successful because everyone shows up every game, and we rely on everyone."

Under Coach Jenica Mathias, in her seventh season, Loudoun County has become a program that reloads rather than rebuilds. On top of the varsity's dominance, the junior varsity program has won 34 straight matches dating from 2006, and the freshman team has only one loss this year.

Before Mathias took over in 2002, Loudoun County had won only three district titles in the previous 16 years.

"Talent and potential - this team definitely has it," Mathias said. "We just have to play it match for match. We have to push past the zero in the loss column. We can't be thinking about that. We have to be thinking about how we're going to win each match."

The Raiders had their way with Cave Spring, which has won three of the last five AA titles, taking early leads and sustaining them throughout. Loudoun County junior outside hitter Juliane Hanna added 13 kills against the Knights.

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks