By: Dan Sousa
Ashburn (Oct. 12, 2007) – For the second time this season the Broad Run High School volleyball team defeated Heritage in four games. The two matches, however, were nothing alike as the Pride displayed an incredible defense on Thursday and proved just how much the young team has matured.
For as much as Heritage (7-3, 12-4) has improved … Broad Run (9-1, 15-1), with its potent attack, has improved just as much and that is why the Spartans remain with a chance to win the AA Dulles District title if they can knock off undefeated Loudoun County when they meet tonight in Leesburg. A win by Broad Run would force a potential playoff if both teams win out, but that could be a big if as County still have to face Heritage and Broad Run will take on Potomac Falls.
“We really want to beat them this time,” said Broad Run setter Kristen Burt about tonight’s match-up with the Raiders, a team that defeated Broad Run in Ashburn last month.
Burt was big factor in Broad Run’s win Thursday to set-up tonight’s showdown as she had 35 assists, setting the table for the Spartans senior super spikers, Brooke Bauernfeind (17 kills) and Lauren Sears (14 kills).
Sears had a big service night with 15 points while Bauernfeind fired four aces. BR also had a nice night in the middle from Elisa Scudder who led BR with five blocks and Lizzie Deane was her usual efficient self along the backrow with 14 digs.
“The fact is we have both gotten better since the last time we played each other,” said Burt about the Heritage match won by Broad Run, 25-14, 19-25, 25-17, 25-22.
The balance Pride attack had six kills each from Gaby Galvan and Ashley Scott and four kills each from Lian Bernett and Emma LeMaitre. Rebecca Presor and Melissa McCandless split the setting duties, combing for 29 assists.
Scott led the Pride with 14 digs and Galvan added 12. If the ball was still in the gym, the Heritage players were going after it. Scott had two solo blocks and Bernett, Galvan and LeMaitre did some nice combination blocking.
Bernett led Heritage with 11 points and McCandless had eight.
“I think they finally realized that they can reach a different level,” said Heritage coach Carmel Keilty.
While Broad Run cruised for the most part in game one, Heritage battled back to tie it. In the crucial third game, things were tied up at 14-14 when Deane had a nice serve to put the Spartans ahead and then Sears wrapped around a Burt set and put the ball away for a 16-14 lead.
Heritage got a point back with Scott tooling the BR block, but Sears, bound for Southern Miss next year, spanked a **** to put the serve in Burt’s hands. She served four straight points to put BR in control with most of the points coming from the Heritage offense unable to get things going because of Burt’s good serve.
Galvan made it 20-16 with a **** but again Broad Run would not allow Heritage to string any points together as Sears slammed a **** off the backrow defense and then, with Jayla Fincher serving, Bauernfeind placed a heady dink for a point and Fincher laced an ace to make it 23-16.
Heritage got one more opportunity to serve but Sears again was there to stop any Pride flow with a **** and then she served the final point scored on a solo block by Scudder.
Broad Run kept right on going in the fourth game, jumping out to a 9-3 lead, but Heritage clawed back and was able to take the lead at 17-14 with Presor serving three straight points for the advantage.
Sears stopped the rally with a **** and then served three straight points with Melissa Miles notching a ****.
The two teams traded points but BR went up 21-19 after Carolyn Pearce dumped a ball over to end a thrilling rally during which the Pride had several highlight reel digs.
Keilty called time out and Heritage was able to get the serve back on a crosscourt **** by Bernett but once again BR caught a break on a Heritage service error and they took advantage by scoring on a Scudder **** off a Burt short set and then a blistering Bauernfeind shot.
Trailing 24-21, Heritage put two points up with Presor dumping a set over for a point and then Scott again smarly tooling the block but BR ended the match with a statement of power, another Bauernfeind high velocity ****.
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