More News

For the second year in a row and third time since 2004, the Magruder girls volleyball squad has earned the status of best team in Montgomery County.

In front of a capacity crowd, the top-seeded Colonels swept No. 2 Gaithersburg, 25-18, 25-20, 25-19, to capture the Class 4A West Region crown Friday night in Derwood.

"Everyone was like, ‘This is our night. Come on, ladies. This is our last time playing together ever in this gym. We have to make the best of it, so let's go get it,'" said Colonels outside hitter Michelle Fowle. "In the past we haven't ended our season the way it should. So hopefully, this is our year because it's my last chance ever."

Just like in the teams' previous meeting on Oct. 22, the undefeated Colonels (23-0) were in control from the opening serve. Even when the Trojans (15-2) made a run to challenge a lead, Magruder had an answer with a pivotal kill, block, dig or ace.

Junior Molly Hirrlinger paced the offense with nine kills while Fowle and Tori Kenno finished with eight and five, respectively. Setter Xiaoyi Li dished out 25 assists. All four — along with libero Lisa Poole and middle Brittany Skrutski — played phenomenal defense.

"We all have our off days, but today we were all on our game," Hirrlinger said. "We've worked so hard for this. ... We really want [a state title]."

In the first set, Magruder steadily built a 13-6 lead. The Trojans closed to within four, 22-18, following junior Erika Steagall's service ace. But Steagall's next attempt was out and Magruder scored the final two points.

Facing a 20-11 deficit in the second set, the Trojans rallied to within two, 21-19, following a Colonels hitting error. On the ensuing point, a Kenno attack broke Gaithersburg's block attempt and halted the run as Magruder won four of the final five points.

The third was all Colonels, as they led by as many as nine points.

"This will feel good until Monday in the gym at 2:30," said Magruder head coach Scott Zanni. "I told the kids we will have to regroup. When we beat Good Counsel we won our tournament five days later. We won our division and every time after [an accomplishment] I said we were moving on to the next goal. We can celebrate all that at our banquet."

Meanwhile, the Trojans graduate seven seniors, including three core starters: libero Bianca Livioco, middle Bridget Kulesh and outside hitter Emily Zetts. But MacKenzie Cockerill, Erika Steagall, Kirby Buttry and sisters Kara and Colleen Marshall return.

"[Magruder] played hard and played great in every position on floor," said Gaithersburg coach Michele Staymates, whose team made their first regional final appearance since 2005. "They passed and served well. Their hitters were on and covered tips well. They deserved this because they beat us square on."

The Colonels face Bowie, which defeated Eleanor Roosevelt in the 4A South Region, on Wednesday at the University of Maryland's Ritchie Coliseum.

Falcons fall

Second-seeded Poolesville's bid for back-to-back state titles came to an end with a 29-27, 24-26, 21-25, 23-25 loss to top-seeded Francis Scott Key in the Class 2A West Region finals.

After graduating the vast majority of their 2008 undefeated squad, the Falcons were scheduled for a rebuilding year. But the young replacements steadily improved.

They finished with a surprising 15-2 record under veteran head coach Fran Duvall, and one of their wins came over Class 3A West Region champion Damascus.

"Not at all," Duvall when asked if she expected this season's results. "[The region final] was real close, but the bottom line was, they were more experienced."

The Falcons should be back amongst the county's elite next year with a veteran squad. With the exception of senior captain and setter Kelly Rosenberg, everyone returns, including All-Gazette libero Paige Sekerak.

Good Counsel wins

Good Counsel wrapped up their season with a four-set win over Mount de Sales on Thursday in the MDDC Private School Championship match.