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For the second year in a row and third time since 2004, the Magruder girls volleyball squad has earned the status of best team in Montgomery County.
In front of a capacity crowd, the top-seeded Colonels swept No. 2 Gaithersburg, 25-18, 25-20, 25-19, to capture the Class 4A West Region crown Friday night in Derwood.
"Everyone was like, ‘This is our night. Come on, ladies. This is our last time playing together ever in this gym. We have to make the best of it, so let's go get it,'" said Colonels outside hitter Michelle Fowle.
Just like in the teams' previous meeting Oct. 22, the undefeated Colonels (23-0) were in control from the opening serve. Even when the Trojans (15-2) made a run to challenge a lead, Magruder had an answer with a pivotal kill, block, dig or ace.
The Colonels established a school record with their 23rd victory of the season. Fowle, a four-year varsity player, also improved on her career wins record with 87. The senior also owns the school's record for kills. Additionally, junior setter Xiaoyi Li has established the single-season assists mark with more than 650.
"There is no question about it, I love getting kills, but it's a team sport," Fowle said. "It is really great. Having said that, I just want to win more than anything. The records just show I'm part of a very good program."
Meanwhile, the Trojans graduate seven seniors, including three core starters: libero Bianca Livioco, middle Bridget Kulesh and outside hitter Emily Zetts. But MacKenzie Cockerill, Erika Steagall, Kirby Buttry and sisters Kara and Colleen Marshall return.
The Colonels travel to the University of Maryland's Ritchie Coliseum for the state semifinals to face Bowie, which defeated Eleanor Roosevelt in the 4A South Region, at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
- Damascus wrapped up consecutive trips to the state semifinals with a 25-18, 25-17, 25-17 sweep of South Hagerstown.
The Swarmin' Hornets were dominant in all facets. Senior Sam Edwards finished with a team-high 12 kills and 5 aces while junior Natalie Bonturi added 5 kills.
"This probably was the best service game we've played all year," said Damascus head coach Carl Merry, whose team served for 10 consecutive points in set one. "One of our goals was to get to College Park, and now we're going to College Park. We'll give it our best shot and see what happens."
The Hornets faced Calvert County's Northern in Tuesday's Class 3A state semifinal, which ended too late to be included in this edition. Check www.gazette.net/montsports for a full recap.
- Poolesville's bid for back-to-back state titles came to an end with a heartbreaking 29-27, 24-26, 21-25, 23-25 loss to top-seeded Francis Scott Key in the Class 2A West Region finals.
After graduating the vast majority of their 2008 undefeated squad, the Falcons were scheduled for a rebuilding year. But the young replacements steadily improved.
They finished with a surprising 15-2 record under veteran head coach Fran Duvall, and one of their wins came over Class 3A West Region champion Damascus.
"Not at all," Duvall when asked if she expected this season's results. "[The region final] was real close, but the bottom line was, they were more experienced."
- Good Counsel wrapped up its season with a four-set win over Mount de Sales on Thursday in the MD/DC Private School Championship match.
