By Angela Watts
Content Editor
When Langley Coach Sue Shifflett called the first time out of the Saxons’ Virginia AAA Quarterfinal against visting Princess Anne, runner-up in the Eastern Region, things weren’t looking good for the Northern Region champions.
“They were being tentative,” said Shifflett, whose team trailed the visiting Cavaliers 15-8 when she had seen enough. “They were in all the right places, but they they weren’t hitting the ball down and they weren’t going up strong on the blocks. They were playing weak. So I called a time out, looked them in the eyes and told them it was time to be aggressive.
“And they heard me; they got it.”
After a pair of failed serves — one by each team — Langley senior setter Megan Shifflett went back for one of her patented jump serves.
Ace.
That single play re-energized the Saxons and sparked what proved a 25-20, 25-12, 25-18 victory over the Cavaliers.
With the win, Langley advances to play Mills Godwin, a 25-18, 18-25, 30-28, 25-17 winner over Forest Park, in the semifinal round at 7 p.m. Thursday at VCU’s Siegel Center in Richmond. Langley (23-1) and Mills Godwin (20-6) scrimmaged in late August at a Showcase Tournament in Richmond, and the Eagles swept the Saxons in three games.
“All season we’ve continued to get better individually and to get better as a team,” Megan Shifflett said. “We have a better awareness of where each other is on the court, and we do a better job of responding to what the other team is doing, too. The growth this year, for all the girls, has been incredible.”
That growth — and maturity — showed when the Saxons were down early Tuesday night. After Shifflett’s ace Langley proceeded to rattle off five more quick points on a **** by senior outside hitter Elizabeth Chin, a blistering block by senior middle Lisa Scott, another Shifflett ace, a Princess Anne error and a well-placed tip by Shifflett where she faked out the entire Cavalier defense and dropped the ball right in the middle of them before they knew what happened.
Another time out was called — this time by Princess Anne — with the score knotted at 16.
“We knew we couldn’t give them one more point until we got a run going,” said junior outside hitter Logan Sebastian, who led the Saxons with a match-high 12 kills. “Megan’s jump serves got us back in it, and we ran with that momentum the rest of the game.”
Langley took its first lead of Game 1 at 17-16 on another Princess Anne error and trailed only once more the entire match — at 2-1 in the third game. The Saxons’ improbable comeback in the first game not only added fuel to their fire, but left the Cavaliers visibly frustrated.
“You could see in their faces they were getting mad,” Sue Shifflett said. “And volleyball is such a game of momentum, if you get like that you’re done.”
It didn’t help the Cavaliers’ cause that the Saxons, once they hit their stride, never let up. Megan Shifflett played with savvy and immense confidence, mixing well-timed tips with one perfect set after another to her array of powerful hitters. Sebastian and Chin (six kills) were superb on the outside, while the 6-foot-3-inch Scott (eight kills, five solo blocks) combined with junior Mattie Gray (three solo blocks) and freshman Audrey Dotson to overpower Princess Anne in the middle.
The Saxons also benefited from the solid defensive play of sophomore libero Elysse Richardson (29 digs) and senior defensive specialist Christina Bumpas (nine digs).
“That’s one of the best teams we’ve seen,” Princess Anne Coach Craig Dooren said. “They really are a team, from top to bottom. And they have good leadership and great size. They can easily hang with any team in the state.”
** Check the video player on the home page, or click on the “Volleyball”
sports central link at the top of the page to watch video highlights from all
three games between Langley and Princess Anne as well as an interview with senior middle Lisa Scott.
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