Volleyball slashed by Wolverines

NOVEMBER 2, NELSON H. KOBREN MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM-

The girls' volleyball team was eliminated in the first round of the Class 4A West division tournament today by Watkins Mill High School in three games with scores of 8-15, 6-15 and 14-16, evening Blair's overall record to 7-7. Watkins Mill (9-6) will face second ranked Wootton High School on Monday, Nov 5, in the second round of the tournament.

Blair's play varied widely within the match, symbolic of its unpredictable change over the entire season. Watkins Mill Coach Jim Garlock mentioned both Blair's near victory over Magruder High School, a team he regarded highly, and Blair's lopsided loss to Blake High School, of which he had a low opinion. "You [Blazers] are like Jekyll and Hyde," he said.

The third game of the match produced a scoring controversy reminiscent of the match against Magruder. The scoreboard, which was originally accurate, is not run by an official scorekeeper, so when both scorekeepers neglected to record Blair's eighth point, they immediately removed a Blair point from the scoreboard. An objection by Coach Jamie Franck one play later led the referee to rectify the official score.

Franck thought the controversy affected Watkins Mill's play negatively, but the difference was too little and too late, as they had already won the first two games and had just three points to go to win the entire match.