Webster, Unitas Lead St. Paul's

Bailey Webster delivers for St. Paul's School for Girls  (Steve Wajer)

By: Keith Mills

It's hard to miss Bailey Webster. At 6-foot-4, she's more than a head taller than most of her rivals and teammates on the volleyball court, though it's her marvelous ability that really catches the eye.

Behind Webster's superb all-around play, St. Paul's School for Girls beat Archbishop Spalding last Saturday night at Villa Julie College to win the IAAM A Conference volleyball championship and help Kelli Wilkinson's Crusaders avenge their loss to the Cavaliers in the championship game one year ago and their only loss of this season two weeks ago.

Webster's sister Brooks was an outstanding player at the Institute of Notre Dame while Bailey, just a junior, is among the best players in the country, earning honorable mention All-American status after a sensational sophomore season. She's being heavily recruited by a variety of major Division I programs, including Stanford and Penn State, and was at her best in this year's title game with 25 kills and three blocks.

But the St. Paul's win was far from a one-player effort. Bailey Griswold and Jillian Unitas combined for 15 kills while senior Rachel Kelly added 40 assists.

Unitas is the daughter of Christine and John Unitas Jr. and the granddaugther of Baltimore Colts Hall of Famer John Unitas. Her brother J.C. quarterbacked the St. Paul's football team before moving on to Villanova, where he was a member of Andy Talley's Wildcats before leaving the team last month.

Mercy won the B Conference volleyball crown, beating Lutheran in four games, while Annapolis Area Christian School won the C Conference title with a three-game win over Towson Catholic.

Issue 2.45: November 8, 2007