No. 1 Broadneck falls to No. 2 Centennial

In battle of state champs, Eagles show title form

High Schools

Volleyball

Forget the first-match jitters and scrap any early-season rust. The No. 2 Centennial volleyball team, defending Class 3A champion, was having none of it.

Not even the fact that No. 1 Broadneck, the returning Class 4A champion, was visiting last night mattered much.

The host Eagles - getting balanced production from their hitters, reliable play from senior setter Jennifer Feldmann and scrappy defense from Jennifer Hilchey - made quick work of the Bruins in a 25-22, 25-18, 26-24 win.

"It was pretty amazing to have two of last year's state champions playing each other. This match, we started to connect a little more as a team. That's been showing a little bit in practice, but today we really just came together, talked a lot more and concentrated on what we need to do next," said Feldmann, who finished with 36 assists and added four aces and four digs.

With the Eagles leading 12-11 in the opener, senior Sarah Gregorini came up with three straight aces and closed with two of her five kills.

Senior Allison Cappelaere (nine kills, four aces, four digs) junior Michelle Grosso (six kills) and junior Tehya Mockapetris (eight kills) took turns dominating the rest of the way.

The Bruins, who jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the third game, were later up 24-22 but watched as the Eagles closed out the match with four straight points.

Broadneck coach Romanzo Beans, who has only two regular starters back from last year's team, called it a learning experience that will pay dividends.

"We're lacking experience as far as time spent on the court and that came to play at this fast pace," he said. "It was just reacting. When they were where they needed to be, they played ball. But that's something that will come with experience."