The CVC Condors participated in the 2009 ASICS Northeast Qualifier April 10-12 at the Baltimore Convention Center. After three days of quality volleyball, the Condors finished third in the Silver Bracket and 17th overall in the field of 55.
On Friday, the Condors started quickly with 25-16 and 25-22 win over High Line 14 Black. Lexi White-Torruellas put the Condors out to an 8-0 lead with a 7-0 service run which included four (4) aces. High Line never recovered and fell in the first set 25-16. The Condors rallied from a 14-12 deficit in the second set to win 25-22. The front line play of Jordan Lawson (2 kills) and Sarah Przybyla (2 kills) paced the offense. With the win, the Condors started pool play with a 1-0 record.
The Condors ran their record to 2-0 with a 25-9 and 25-17 win over Downstate 14 Black. Service runs by Allison Kupiec (2 aces) and Naomi Burke (1 ace) were the story of the first set. The offense was paced by Kupiec and Taylor Latimer with two kills each. Kupiec’s 5-0 service run broke open an 8-6 game and Burke’s 7-0 service run put the Condors ahead 24-9 on their way to the 25-9 win. The second set featured long rallies and strong defensive play on both sides. Kupiec (2 digs), Maddie Chervenak (2 digs), and Alli Cable (1 dig) were strong on the back row throughout this game. White-Torruellas served out the 25-17 victory with two aces.
The Condors dropped their match of the first day falling to CS 14 N Brittany 25-9 and 25-22. The second set was a see-saw affair with strong defensive play by the Condors. Chelsea Owensby paced the offense with four (4) assists. The defense was lead by Mallory Baldwin and Chervenak. Unfortunately, CS 14 N Brittany won the final three points of the set for a 25-22 win. The Condors finished the first day of the three day event with a 2-1 record; good enough for a second place finish in their pool and a position in the tournament’s Gold Bracket.
On Saturday, the Condors dropped their first match to USA South 14 by the scores of 25-12 and 25-11. The first set was tied at 10 before USA South ran off a 12-0 run on their way to the 25-12 win. USA South jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the second set on their way to a 25-11 win. In defeat, the Condors received fine defensive play from Cable and received offense from Lawson (2 kills) and Latimer (1 kill). The Southwest 14 Asics defeated the Condors 25-15 and 25-14 in their second match to drop their record to 0-2.
The Condors rebounded with an exciting 25-20, 14-25, 15-12 win over Club Kahuna. White-Torruellas provided two 4-0 service runs to put the Condors ahead 20-17 in the first set. Kills by Przybyla and Lawson sandwiched a block by Kupiec that put the Condors ahead to stay at 23-18. Owensby served an ace for set point. Becca Pierce provided offense and defense in this set recording one dig and one kill. Club Kahuna won the second set easily setting up the third and final set. A 5-0 run by Club Kahuna pulled them within 13-12 before Owensby set-up Baldwin for a kill to put the Condors ahead 14-12 on their way to the 15-12 win. The victory gave the Condors a 1-2 record for day two and qualified them for the silver bracket play-offs on Sunday.
On Sunday, the Condors defeated Charlestown Juniors 20-25, 25-16, 15-9 to advance to the semi-finals of the silver bracket. Lawson provided kills on consecutive points to put the Condors ahead 18-15 in the first set. Unfortunately, Charlestown went on a 10-2 run to take the first set. The Condors received fine defensive play from Cable (3 digs) and Kupiec (2 digs) and the offense was paced by the setting of Owensby (3 assists) and Burke (2 assists). The Condors trailed 11-10 in the second set before Chervenak led a 6-0 service run. During the run, Chervenak had four aces and Przybyla recorded two kills. The Condors went on to win the set 25-16 to force a third and deciding set. With the third set tied at 9, Baldwin led a 6-0 service run and the Condors advanced to the semi-finals with the 15-9 win. The Condors received fine net play from Latimer (2 kills), White-Torruellas (1 kill), and Kupiec (1 kill). The win placed the Condors in the semi-finals against Richmond Volleyball Club.
The Condors’ run came to an end with a 25-20, 25-7 loss to Richmond Volleyball Club. In the first set, the Condors’ offense was led by Latimer (2 kills) and the defense was led by Kupiec and Chervenak with two digs each. Richmond took control of the second set from the start and won the second set 25-7 to win the match.
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