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All year long, the Magruder girls volleyball team has been paced by outside hitters Michelle Fowle and Molly Hirrlinger. But during the Colonels' 25-21, 25-8, 25-17 Class 4A state semifinal victory over previously unbeaten Bowie on Wednesday at the University of Maryland's Ritchie Coliseum, it was senior Tori Kenno's time to shine.

With her team leading 11-6 in the second set, the 5-foot-9 opposite hitter served for nine consecutive points, including six of her match-high seven service aces.

"We have a lot of kids that have gotten a lot of recognition," Colonels head coach Scott Zanni said. "Tori is kind of the hidden gem; maybe our secret weapon. Although she is probably not too secret after all those points she scored."

Added Kenno: "[The serves] help us keep going and gives us momentum to keep fighting through."

Despite returning several key members from last year's state semifinalist squad, the Colonels (24-0, West Region) came out tight Wednesday, displaying a few early match jitters.

After Magruder claimed a 20-10 advantage in set one, several unforced errors allowed the Bulldogs (16-1, South Region) to stage a 10-2 run and make things interesting. Siri Ngundam (11 kills) paced the Bulldogs' offense.

"I think it was a lot of nerves setting in," Fowle said. "For a lot of players this is their first time being on the court in this huge gym. But the returning players who actually played out there tried to calm everyone down, even though we were nervous too."

Added Zanni: "We were trying to figure out how we wanted to play them as the match was progressing. ... The kids were feeling their way through the match kind of like the coaching staff was."

With the offense running smoothly in the third set, the Colonels ended the match on an 8-2 run.

Setter Xiaoyi Li dished out 34 assists; several resulting in points from the swinging arms of Fowle (13 kills), Hirrlinger (10) and senior middle hitter Brittany Skrutski (7). Libero Lisa Poole had 12 digs.

The Colonels will face two-time reigning state champion Broadneck, which defeated Urbana on Wednesday in four games. The match is scheduled for 5 p.m Saturday. The Bruins swept Magruder for the 2004 title.

"[Having a chance to win] is like Christmas morning." Hirrlinger said. "It's nice to kind of prove yourself again."