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Game of the Week: Raiders, Falcons match up
The Loudoun County Raiders are the established powerhouse of Dulles District volleyball, a state-title program with waves of experienced athletes.
The Briar Woods Falcons are the emerging program, mostly comprised of athletes recruited from other sports, achieving respectability while setting a school-best mark in victories each of the past two seasons.
The champion Raiders and the upstart Falcons will meet Oct. 16 in Leesburg.
"Our goal is not to win a match, but just to win a game against Loudoun County," said Richard Bennett, Briar Woods' second-year coach.
Bennett's squad has yet to tally as many as 20 points in a game against the Raiders. The fourth-year program has never defeated County on the volleyball court.
"We do our goals slowly," Bennett said.
Before last season, Bennett took over a two-year-old program which claimed three wins in its history. Briar Woods won eight that year and have already bettered that total this year.
The Falcons reached another milestone with their school's first volleyball victory versus Broad Run Sept. 25. In that game, Bennett's "two offensive weapons," Kim Bell and Krysta Gardner, combined for 32 kills. Caitlin Ronan, one of the district's assist leaders, dished out 32 assists.
Bennett says County volleyball has established a true program in Leesburg, with multiple Division I signees each of the past two seasons and a roster full of elite travel players.
"It seems like they get the best female athletes to play volleyball," Bennett said.
A few of those female athletes include tall kill machines Shaylin O'Connell and Katie Gloe, often assisted by Katie Martin – all seniors.
County coach Jenica Matthias likes having five seniors -- including versatile Kerry Sarver and Rochelle Latka -- with a combined 20 years in the Raider volleyball system.
"What I like about them is that they don't crack under pressure," said Matthias, whose squad vanquished the last team to defeat them, Cave Spring, on Sept. 27.
County may be on the way to a second straight state championship. Briar Woods is looking to compete, and reach the next milestone. The goal for each is the same: to win.
"We're never satisfied with how good we are now," Matthias said.
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Raiders will don pink uniform tops Oct. 16. Attendees are encouraged to wear pink.
Breast cancer survivors will be granted free admission to the match. The Annandale-based Side-Out Foundation will host a “Dig Pink” rally, which will be accepting donations.
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