Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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November 7, 2009

Raiders drop Mavericks in regional play

By TOM BONE

HINTON — Liberty made history on the volleyball court Saturday, and in doing so kept James Monroe from repeating their own slice of history.

The Raiders defeated the Mavericks in four long and spirited games in the Summers County High School gym to reach the state prep volleyball tournament for the first time in the 33-year history of the school.

James Monroe (15-20-2) was denied a second straight trip to Charleston by scores of 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-12.

Led by windmill spikes from Raiders senior Katy Jarrell and spot-on play by April Hood, Liberty pulled together with rock-solid execution.

First-year Liberty coach Tracey Barker said, “We have been drilling, drilling, drilling, nothing but fundamentals.”

The Mavs fought off three ties in the first game to take the win, securing the game point on Melissa Johnston’s spike.

Mavericks head coach Deronda McDaniel said, “Our serves were in, our sets, our passes, our spikes, our digs, all that was in. They just adjusted, that second game.”

Barker said about the first game result, “I think it was nerves. We did our team prayer, we did our warmup, I literally had kids — coaches included — (whose) hands were shaking. This is only the second time ... that Liberty has made it to regionals.”

After the first game, the Raiders seemed to wake up. Barker said, “It wasn’t me. It was the kids. They got down here, and they got in the huddle, and automatically each one of them started rattling off at least one thing that went wrong. ...

“I didn’t have to say a thing other than ‘Girls, go get ’em.’ And that was a good feeling.”

In the second game, Jarrell served five points and Hood put down two balls in a sequence that gave Liberty the lead.

The Raiders’ Alyssa Daniels served for six late points in game three, including back-to-back aces that gave Liberty at 22-20 lead that they did not give up.

A 27-hit volley seemed to emphasize how closely the two teams were matched.

James Monroe briefly tied the final game 9-9, but the Raiders ran away from there. Anna Cangemi served up the final seven points for the victors, and Jarrell’s two spikes produced the final result.

Being turned back at the regional level, McDaniel said, “It’s hard. You saw it on their face. There wasn’t a dry eye over here. ... The girls that went (last year), they know what they’re going to be missing out on, come next weekend.”

She said, “We had freshmen on the floor, and senior leadership. ... We’ll have a strong team next year again.”

“We had to rebuild. We lost five seniors last year, and we just had to rebuild. I’m proud of them. .... They should all be recognized, because they all put forth the effort.”

Jordan Mann had 12 assists and Jade McDaniel had 12 kills for James Monroe. Karsyn Boothe recorded 10 kills, eight digs and four blocks. Johnston had six kills, while seniors Morgan Wickline and Morgan Pritt each contributed five digs.

Freshman setter Jenna Hancock aired out five assists.

Summers County defeated Wyoming East in a three-game semifinal sweep on their home court Saturday, and then beat Liberty in the regional championship three games to one. Both regional finalists automatically advance to the state tournament.

—Contact Tom Bone at

tbone@bdtonline.com

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