Volleyball: Cougars Edge Out Patriots in Home-Opener

After pushing the game to a fifth set, the Oakton High volleyball team continued its tournament success from last weekend into its home-opener with a 3-2 victory over the Yorktown Patriots.

Though the Cougars maintained the lead for most of the first set, taking a 19-16 lead before the Patriots went on an eight-point run for a three-point lead. But the Cougars continued to battle, tying the set at 24-24 before Yorktown pulled away with a 26-24 first set win. 

But the Cougars fought back in the second set, taking the lead the first time at 6-5 and sustaining it for a decisive 25-18 win to put the match tied 1-1 heading into the third set. 

In the third set, the Cougars and Patriots stayed evenly matched throughout, with neither team holding more than a two-point lead until the Patriots went on a 6-3 run to win the third set 25-22. 

The fourth set belonged to the Cougars, as they dominated from the start to win 25-13 and force a fifth set with no signs they were slowing down.

"Coach Dan [Courain] always makes an effort to get us up and going to keep the energy up," said Misa Mori, who had a double-double with 15 kills and 10 aces. "From start to the end, from warmups we do things that keep us up. And in practice we are high intensity to help us from getting tired at the end of a game."

The Cougars' ability to keep up their energy proved advantageous, as they continued their dominance in the fifth set with a 15-9 win to secure their first home victory of the 2012 season. 

The Cougars have started the season 6-0, a feat last achieved in 2009.

With the Patriots coming off a season that stretched to the final four of the Northern Region tournament, the Cougars knew they had a tough game on their hands.

"We were told Yorktown was returning more than their regional final four team ... so we knew they were going to be very good," Courain said. "[Yorktown's Hayley Molnar] was absolutely amazing. It's amazing someone who can hit so well can do everything in the back row, passing and serving. When she was in front row, our goal was just go point for point and then try to get our runs in."

Much of the Cougars' game plan revolved around adjusting to Molnar's play, who proved powerful and effective in both the front and back rows.

"When we started double-blocking her, she just began tipping. ... We knew we couldn't get too many digs against her, so it was just about minimizing the damage she could do as much as possible," Courain said. "We knew she'd get points in, so our goal was to focus on that block and have two people blocking her as much as possible."

The Cougars' next match pits them against Broad Run at home 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Notable Statistics

Abby Mills: 8 kills, 5 digs, 3 blocks (0.333 hitting %)
Emma Olson: 10 kills, 35 assists, 7 digs, 4 blocks, 2 aces (0.474)
Christina Williams: 12 digs, 3 aces
Misa Mori: 15 kills, 5 aces, 10 digs, 2 blocks (0.344)
Karina Nyman: 10 kills, 7 blocks (0.389)