Loyola Blakefield captured the MIAA A Conference volleyball championship Friday evening, taking out defending champ Calvert Hall College in four sets at Boys’ Latin.
“Two great teams played at a very high level,” said Dons’ coach Tim Baier, who won his fourth conference championship. “We had great team chemistry, the best I’ve ever seen from the teams I have coached.”
Baier got great efforts again from Ryan Quesenberry (18 kills), Chris Macon (9 kills), and Dave Marsh (44 assists).
Marsh agreed with his coach.
“Our chemistry was tremendous. It was the best of any team I’ve ever played for,” said Marsh, a senior setter.
The Dons (14-2 overall) grabbed two quick wins against the Hall, with 25-19 and 25-22 decisions. Calvert Hall (12-3) rallied in game three to win 28-26, but the comeback was short lived.
In game four, Loyola raced out to a 16-8 lead and it never looked back, wrapping up the title, 25-12. The Dons captured titles in 2004, 2005 and 2007 under Baier.
Calvert Hall’s Matt Bosse, Tyler Littleton, Kevin Beres, Chris McDonald, Ryan Muth, and Dan Binette all played well, but the Dons had more fire power.
Alec Dauses had eight kills for Loyola, and Jack Mitchell had six. The Dons and Cardinals split their matches during the regular season.
Libero Matt Verderamo had another great game for the Dons, and Quesenberry excelled at the net. Baier called Quesenberry “our MVP.”
The win gave Loyola their second fall championship in six days; the AquaDOns having dispatched Calvert Hall in the water polo championship last Saturday, 10-6.
On Tuesday night, the fall rivalry continues when the Dons meet the Cardinals at Calvert Hall in a MIAA A Conference soccer quarterfinal game.
