A Newsletter for the Wootton High School Boys Volleyball Community

3.23.2010

Wootton Starts 2010 Season With a 3-0 Win


Patriots prevail over Richard Montgomery 34-32, 25-22, 27-25

It's tough to lose the close ones. Losing the close ones leaves little reward for competing head-to-head with an opponent in every way but the final slightest of a margin of victory. Wootton has been there, including 2009's semifinal playoff loss against eventual county champion Richard Montgomery Rockets. For the past several years, Wootton and RM have gone head-to-head each time with the outcome of each game and match being decided by the slightest of margins. There have been close ones in this cross-town rivalry.

Tuesday's match at Richard Montgomery was expected to be no less than a highly competitive contest. This time, as a season opener, both teams could take measure against each other on how preseason training has progressed, and determine what improvements need to be made. Richard Montgomery's roster includes two veteran players from Maryland Volleyball Program's nationally-ranked elite team, and a core group of skilled players (including a kid with the same last name as Wootton's coach...yes, a father-son rivalry) that are well-coached. The Patriots had their hands full.

Aaron Yee and Tony Malinauskas led the Wootton side of the net. Strong all-around games by Kevin Liang and Eray Wang steadied the rotation that saw veterans mixing it up with newcomers. Veteran Clayton Zhang and newcomer Nic Texier had good games blocking middle, Sophomores Chris Wong and Michael Ip gained valuable playing experience in the back row. Freshman Justin Fowler and Jeffery Qiu were solid coming off the bench.

Yes, Wootton has lost it's share of close ones. This time, it was good to squeak out a road win against an RM team that is favored to win the county championship (see Gazette season preview >> ). Expect RM to get stronger and stronger as the season progresses....the hallmark of a veteran and well-coached team.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Yayyyyyyyy