By Angela Watts
Content Editor
As her players whirled in circles, screaming in wild celebration Thursday night at Centreville High, Langley Coach Sue Shifflett was bombarded by well-wishers. She moved from one elated parent, friend, student and player to the next, passing out hugs to anyone who came within arms’ reach.
“This is huge!” Shifflett nearly whispered, her voice having failed her long before the end of the Saxons’ 26-24, 25-16, 25-19 victory over the Wildcats to earn a berth into Saturday’s Northern Region championship game against Chantilly and next week’s Virginia AAA state tournament. “It was 1999 when we last went to states, and I don’t even know what to say. This is just so exciting.
“I don’t want to go home. I don’t want to go to school. I just want to go to practice!”
The Saxons were near flawless against the host Wildcats, with senior setter Megan Shifflett (committed to Penn State) and senior middle blocker Lisa Scott (Maryland) setting the pace with a great rhythm at the net. Langley also got significant contributions from senior starters Christina Bumpas and Elizabeth Chin, juniors Mattie Gray and Logan Sebastian and sophomore Elyse Richardson, each of whom was at the top of their game.
“Langley played the best match I’ve ever seen them play,” Centreville Coach Ken Moser said. “And when someone comes in and plays the match of their program, what are you going to do? I think we could have played the match of our lifetime and still not beaten them.”
The Saxons will square off against Chantilly at 6 p.m. Saturday in the regional finale
after the Chargers’ 25-19, 25-18, 25-19 victory over Stone Bridge in the
second half of Thursday’s semifinal double-header. Both teams, by virtue of advancing to the regional title game, have already secured a berth in next week’s state tournament. But there is still much on the line. Not only does Saturday’s winner earn a regional championship, but a home game in the quarterfinal round of the upcoming state tournament as well.
“We’ve been to the state tournament once before in 2004, so this is only the second time,” Chantilly Coach Charles Ezigibo said. “But it’s especially nice to be going back after just three years. With this group of kids, anything is possible, I think.”
The Chargers jumped to a big lead in each of its three games, starting off with 10-4, 10-3 and 7-1 leads, respectively. The catalyst of each early burst was the jump serving of sophomore Joanna Powers, but she got a considerable amount of help from senior libero Vicki Chung, a trio of middle blockers — Jessica Cooper, Haley Rauch and Allison Williams — as well as sophomore setters Andrea Linte and Emily Wright and sophomore outside hitter Samantha Reeves.
“When we get behind there’s more pressure and then we don’t play our game, so jumping ahead was important,” Powers said. “We definitely have learned to work together on that. We’ve become such a great team and all of our talent just blends together really well now.”
While Langley and Chantilly move on, Thursday’s losses marked the end of the high school career for six standout players, including Stone Bridge seniors Natalie Driskill and Meghan DeMartino and Centreville seniors Kelly Brugger, Sammy Hunt, Jackie Moot and Allie Vandivier.
“It’s not about this match or any other one,” Brugger said. “Not for me. This isn’t the way I wanted it to end, but when I look back what I’ll remember is just how much I loved playing with everyone. Centreville is just awesome. Coming out here with the fans and everyone you know and just having the time of your life on the court. That’s what I’m going to miss the most.”
** Check out the video player on our home page, or go to the “Volleyball” sports central link at the top of the home page to see more than a dozen video clips from Thursday’s two matches as well as a video interview with Saxon seniors Megan Shifflett and Lisa Scott.
** Photos courtesy of Sue Spencer of Perfect Shot Photos. For more information, please go to http://web.mac.com/perfectshot.
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