Posted: Nov 07, 2008
The Maroons enter tonight's ODAC Quarterfinal on an 11-match win streak, the second-longest in school-history (2002 - 16). The 24-3 record already clinched the best in school-history and with a win tonight will break the school mark with 25.
The Maroons were honored tonight with three players earning All-ODAC honors. Newcomers Maggie Wagner and Kelsey Largen were each garnered second-team honors while junior libero Caitlyn Long was tabbed Honorable Mention All-ODAC. All three were teammates in high school at Cave Spring where all three won two Virginia Class AA State Championships. It was the first time since 2003 that there were two Maroons on the All-ODAC Second-Team. It was also the first time since the 2004 season that three were named on the All-ODAC Team.
Long, who is considered the most valuable player on the team, is leading the team in digs, aces and assists, filling in for injured Kate Feldman midway through the season. Feldman was leading the team and ranked in the ODAC in assists and assists per game. Already the school's all-time digs leader (1245), Long is ranked all-time at Roanoke in aces (107-7th), assists (610-9th) and is ranked 1-2-3 in single-season digs.
Senior Marcy Conner, a Hidden Valley product, is leading the Maroons in all block categories and is having the best season of her career. With her stats improving every year at Roanoke, Conner is now ranked among the top-10 for a career in kills, attacks, hitting percentage, blocks, block solos and block assists.
Head Coach Blair Trail is in her 10th season at Roanoke, 12th if you include her playing days (1997-98). The school's winningest coach with 188 wins, she is also second behind ODAC Legend Bryan Snyder (W&L) in wins among active ODAC coaches.
Roanoke enters today with a 19-32 all-time record in the ODAC Tournament and has advanced to the ODAC Championship only three times (1995, 99, 01). With a win over the Eagles tonight, the Maroons will advance to the ODAC Semifinals for the first time since 2004 and the ninth time since 1990. Six of those nine appearances came since Trail has been at Roanoke. Trail has an 8-10 record in the ODAC Tournament (1-1 as a player in 1998) and will be looking for her third ODAC Championship appearance. It will not be easy as the Maroons will likely play top-seed Washington & Lee if the women advance in the quarterfinal round tonight.
The Maroons are 12-44 all-time vs. Bridgewater since 1978 in one of its oldest rivalries. In this the 57th meeting between the two, Roanoke is 3-10 against the Eagles in the ODAC Tournament. Two of the three wins came in the ODAC Semifinals (1995 & 99) and all three have come in five sets (3-2). The last five wins in the series have all gone the distance, winning 3-2.
