IAAM Crowns Volleyball Champions

By: Brandon Goldner

A Conference Championships

Mount de Sales beat the odds to win the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland's A Conference championship, knocking off previously unbeaten St. Paul's, 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 25-22, Saturday.

The Sailors team, which featured seniors Katy Buck and Kasey Mercier, faced a tough St. Paul's team, which included Bailey Webster, who is considered to be the top volleyball recruit in the nation and has recently accepted a volleyball scholarship from the University of Texas.

Webster got 22 kills and three blocks in the final match of her St. Paul's career.

Mount de Sales finished the season with a 15-2 record. St. Paul's ended the year at 17-1, as the Gators came up just short in their attempt to repeat as the conference champions.

This was also the last game for Sailors coach Kenny Mills, who is leaving to take a job in Massachusetts.

B Conference Championships

Notre Dame Prep (15-1) got some payback against Mercy (15-4) in a 25-16, 25-21, 25-13 win for the IAAM B Conference championship. Earlier in the year, Mercy had handed the Blazers their only loss of the season, but NDP got revenge in the biggest match of all.

This is Notre Dame Prep's third conference title victory, having won the crown in 2004 and 2005.

Alexis Sanders, Katie Hill, and Cait Carmen of Notre Dame Prep played solid in the sweep. Mercy's Maggie Marion, Sarah Thompson, and Ava Trageser did well in the losing effort.

C Conference Championships

After some tough semi-final losses in previous seasons, Beth Tfiloh (11-3) was finally able to make it to the C Conference championships this season. Everything went the Warriors' way this time as they won their first conference championship with a 26-24, 25-16, 25-20 sweep of Catholic (13-5) in the title match.

Jessica Marder and Jen Holzman led the way for Beth Tfiloh, who also got strong efforts from Samara Ashpes, Lindsay Harris, and Emily Sellman.