By Jon Buzby
MaxPreps.com
The Mount de Sales girls volleyball team came into Saturday’s championship game knowing it not only would be facing one of the best programs in the state, but arguably one of the best volleyball players in the country.
The determined Sailors ignored their underdog status and instead jumped out to an early lead, winning game one against defending champion St. Paul’s, 25-21, on their way to a 3-1 victory (25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 25-22) in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) A conference finals at Roland Park Country School.
Senior Katy Buck led Mount de Sales (15-2) with 23 kills and 16 digs as her team handed St. Paul’s (17-1) its only loss of the season.
"We've been preparing for this all year," Buck, a four-year starter, told the Baltimore Sun. "We felt like if we played our game today, then no one could stop us."
Gator senior Bailey Webster, the most sought-after recruit in the country who recently announced she will take her talents to Texas next fall, finished her stellar career with 22 kills and three blocks in the championship game.
Mount de Sales coach Kenny Mills, who coached his last game due to a job change that will take him to Massachusetts next year, credited a defensive adjustment as the key to avenging an early-season loss to St. Paul’s.
“We just needed to make a defensive adjustment," Mills told the Baltimore Sun. "I moved my setters [Elissa Boffen and Kelly McGraw, who had 48 assists between them], and they were getting to a lot more balls today. That, and the fact that we dug up Bailey very well [were the keys to the win]."
Notre Dame Cruises to IAAM B Championship
Notre Dame Prep overcame deficits in its first two games to defeat Mercy, 25-16, 25-21, 25-13, to win the IAAM B Conference title. The Blazers (15-1) lost to the Magic (15-4) early in the season, but then rattled off 10-straight wins heading into Saturday night’s rematch.
Notre Dame Prep, located in Towson, last won the championship in 2005 when the team’s seniors were freshmen.
"We had four great seniors and an unbelievable setter, and it all came together,” Blazers coach Kim Bryson told the Baltimore Sun. “Our net play and passing were exceptional today."
Beth Tfiloh Wins IAAM C Championship
Beth Tfiloh suited up just eight players for Saturday’s IAAM C Conference championship finals, but that would prove to be all it would need, as the Warriors swept three games to defeat Catholic 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-20).
Beth Tfiloh’s (13-3) championship, the school’s first, breaks a two-year title reign by Annapolis Area Christian, who moved up to the B division this season. Catholic (12-6) lost in the championship game for the second year in a row.
The teams split two five-set matches during the regular-season.
Centennial Wins 14th Howard County Championship
Wilde Lake came into Tuesday night’s championship game having never been there before, but based on its level of play in game one, the casual fan would have thought they were a championship-tested team.
In that first game, Lake battled Centennial point for point until Eagle sophomore Sam Brostrom recorded four consecutive kills and a point block to give her team a narrow 26-24 win and end any hopes the Wildecats had for a first-game upset.
In game two, Centennial showed its experience getting out to an early 8-1 lead and running away with a 25-8 decisive win to set up a closer, but easy, game three win (25-19) to clinch the program’s 14th Howard County girl’s volleyball championship.
"This year everything is just clicking and we're confident and we know each other a lot better. It feels really great to be able to keep up the great tradition we have here," junior Sarah Hall told the Howard County Times. "There's no doubt in my mind that we won't go all the way this season."
St. Paul’s Webster Heading to Texas
St. Paul’s senior Bailey Webster has announced she will take her volleyball talents to the University of Texas next fall.
Recruited by over 100 major college programs, Webster chose the Longhorns over Florida, Stanford, and Alabama, where her sister is a redshirt junior on the Crimson Tide volleyball team.
In addition to her extensive high school playing experience, the 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year will also use her experience as a member of the U.S. Junior National volleyball team to bolster her chances of earning a starting spot on a talented Texas team that is currently ranked No. 3 in the country.
Webster’s St. Paul’s squad lost to Mount de Sales in the IAAM A finals on Saturday. Despite this year’s loss, Webster will take two championship rings (2005, 2007) to Austin with her.
Webster will make her verbal commitment official when she signs a letter of intent during the first national signing period on Nov. 12.
Jon Buzby is the Maryland correspondent for MaxPreps.com
