Volleyball vanquishes Magruder

SEPT 27, NELSON H. KOLBEN GYMNASIUM---
The Blair girls' volleyball team swiftly dealt the division-leading Magruder High School squad its first loss of the season tonight, taking the first two sets 15-7, 17-15.

The Blazers shrugged their underdog title, set the pace of the game from the beginning and pushed the then-number-one White Division seed into their wake.

Blair got off to a good start with the crowd behind them, taking the first two points of the first set. But Magruder managed to gain possession and put away one of the few points they would earn during the match. The Blazers appeared to have the set in the bag after scoring ten straight points until Magruder staged a late comeback, countering with six consecutive points of their own.

After regaining their composure, the Blazers took the reins and put the set in the books, winning 15-7.

A completely different Magruder squad showed up for the second set and put the Blazers on their heels, taking the first three points. For the first half of the second set it appeared to be Maguruder's court. The few times Blair gained possession, misguided serves or breakdowns in communication squandered any chance of putting points on the scoreboard.

As soon as Magruder won its ninth point and lengthened its lead to seven points, Blair jumped on the chance and strung together eight straight points. The lead went back and forth towards conclusion of the set, but Blair was able to squeak away with the set 17-15, and the game 2-0.

First year coach Anne Garrison was more than satisfied with the outcome of Blair's third division match. "We've had some tight games before, but this was the first game where the competition was real good," she said.

The win brought Blair to 6-1 overall and dropped previously undefeated Magruder to 4-1. Blair is now tied with Magruder for second place in White Division. The Blazer's only loss so far came against Springbrook High School on Sept 25.

Coach Garrison felt that the only real weaknesses holding her talented athletes back are in communication and psychological lapses, but she said,"[Tonight] they let their mistakes roll off real well."
The Blazers appear to have a bright future due to the fact that four of this year's starting six are juniors.

Senior co-captain Jeanne Yang felt that tonight's game was a form of redemption for the controversial loss that Magruder handed the Blazers a year ago, in which a controversial call potentially cost Blair the game. "It feels good to win after our loss to them last year and Springbrook two days ago," Yang said.