LCA falls to Flint Hill in VISVA final rematch

ROANOKE — Playing in its seventh consecutive Virginia Independent Schools Division I state championship match, Liberty Christian Academy’s volleyball team wasn’t intimidated by facing defending state champion Flint Hill’s giant front line.

The Bulldogs (22-10) gave the Huskies (31-2) a spirited battle before falling in four games, Saturday at North Cross, 25-14, 25-16, 20-25, 25-18.

“It took us two games to really get into it,” LCA second-year coach Todd Lynn said. “They just had a lot of weapons. Their average height was probably six to seven inches taller than our girls, so it came down to playing with heart and our girls never gave up. They kept fighting, even when they were down.”

The Bulldogs didn’t back down against Huskies outside hitters Marilyn Peizer and Tori Janowski (7 kills, 5 aces, 5 blocks) and middle hitter Audrey Dotson (8 kills, 6 blocks).

“We were looking up at them because they were so tall,” LCA senior outside hitter Stephanie Eubank said. “We stepped up and played really hard and well as a team. We all play with heart, we play to win, do our best and do it for God’s glory.”

“We played our hearts out and gave it our all,” added senior setter Arianna Avery, who distribute 25 assists. “We rose to the occasion (and) sacrificed ourselves on the court.”

Peizer was named the tournament MVP after spiking a match-high 16 kills, the last on match point after Flint Hill dug up two or three near kills by the Bulldogs.

“She loves it (hitting from the back row) and she’s a very consistent hitter,” Huskies coach Carrol Anderson said. “If she doesn’t get a kill, she keeps it in play.”

Flint Hill’s strength of schedule gave it a competitive edge.

“We played public schools in our area and that helped prepare us for the state tournament,” Anderson said, noting the Huskies faced five teams ranked in The Washington Post’s top 10.

By contrast, LCA competed in the relatively weak Blue Ridge Conference.

“We didn’t play a lot of stiff competition throughout the year so when you play the No. 1 ranked team in the state in the championship match … They’re a tough team,” Lynn said. “We made some defensive mistakes early. In the third and fourth games, we did a lot better, but it was almost too late.”

Despite graduating middle hitter Holly Johnson (eight kills), who, like Avery, made the all-tournament team after being named all-VIS last fall, and Eubank, Lynn hopes history will repeat itself next year.

LCA lost in the state final in 2003 and 2004 before winning their first state title in several seasons in 2005. After winning again in 2007, beating Flint Hill in the state semifinals, the Bulldogs now have finished runner-up to the Huskies twice in a row.

“Next year, we expect to be back and ready to give Flint Hill a run for their money,” said Lynn, noting eight of the 12 players on his roster are sophomores or freshmen. “The next three years, this is going to be a very good team. We lose three seniors, but we’re looking to reload and get ready to make a run at it next year.”