Blair Volleyball Team Loses Nail Biter in Season Opener

With school officially back in session across Montgomery County, it was only a matter of time before fall sports schedules kicked in as well. Friday's volleyball match between theMontgomery Blair Blazers (0-1) and Winston Churchill Bulldogs (1-0) marked the beginning of both teams' seasons, and it certainly did not disappoint.

The 6:30 p.m. match did not end until well after 9 o'clock, due entirely to its highly-competitive nature. By the night's end, both squads had endured five games of hard-fought volleyball, with Churchill ultimately named the victor.

Churchill stole the first game of the match by a count of 26-24, largely due to a questionable no-call on behalf of the referee. Had the call in question been made, the initial game would have fallen in favor of Blair. The Blazers took the next two games by equally close margins (25-22 and 25-23) before dropping the fourth game 27-25.

The tie-breaking fifth game opened as competitively as the first four had finished, with both teams knotted at 4 points apiece early on. Churchill went on to claim 11 of the following 14 points, ending the game at 15-7, and sealing the match. 

"We went out there and played with heart and we never gave up," Blair coach Chris Klein said following the loss. "We kind of ran out of energy but that's what happens. Everyone gave 150 percent and that's all I can ask."

The Churchill team, according to one parent, is returning just four players this season from last year's squad. For that reason, many suspected the Bulldogs would not be nearly as competitive as they proved to be on Friday. Klein however, was not a constituent of that underestimating crowd.

"They didn't surprise me. They're always a very good team. They played scrappy ball. I've got to hand it to them," he said.

Despite the loss, one glaring positive was apparent on the court, and that was the play of sophomore setter Kathlyn Skolnik. A Takoma Park resident, Skolnik is already the clear leader of the Blazers despite her age. 

"She's a dynamite player," Klein said of Skolnik. "She's been playing club ball for a long time and she has an unbelievable sense of the court. She really has a lot of skills out there."

According to Skolnik's father Jon, a longtime volleyball player himself, Kathlyn also plays co-ed varsity volleyball, club volleyball and club soccer.

"She's got a great jump float serve," he said. "She's never been a full-time setter before though, so she has a bit to learn there."

Skolnik finished the match with 11 aces and a remarkable 24 digs. Nika Lilley, also of Blair, recorded eight kills and 18 digs.

Next up on Blair's schedule is a home match against Wheaton on Sept. 10. 

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