2022.10.11 Volleyball: Loudoun County @ Dominion

Sterling, VA (October 11, 2022) - In a five-set thriller, a few weeks ago, the Loudoun County Captains fully revived their slow-starting season with a win over the Dominion Titans. Since then Dominion hasn't lost and Loudoun County has only lost once--to the high-flying Rock Ridge Phoenix.

With time running out in the regular season--and rematches for both teams with the Phoenix looming--tonight's return matchup at Dominion could not have been any more important. 

Chas Sumser Photography was there to capture the action and emotion and posted a gallery of images from the game.

Set 1: Dominion 25 - Loudoun County 20 (1-0)

For a while, the set went just as expected. Neither team had more than a single point lead until Dominion went ahead 13-11. County quickly cut the margin in half, but then the Titans slowly began to pull ahead. The Captains called timeout trailing 20-16, but Dominion surged again to lead 23-17. County closed the gap, forcing a Dominion timeout leading 23-19, and that quelled the Captains' momentum as the Titans closed out the set.

Set 2: Dominion 25 - Loudoun County 15 (2-0)

Dominion's Emma Adiaconitei opened the set with a 7-0 serving run, and the Titans never lost the lead. The Captains were able to close the gap to 7-5, but were forced to call timeout with Adiaconitei serving again and the Titans ahead, 17-11. To their credit, County staged a brief comeback behind excellent service from Olivia Powers--forcing Dominion to call timeout still ahead, but with less of a lead at 20-15. Again the timeout worked, and the Titans easily won the set.

Set 3: Dominion 25 - Loudoun County 18 (3-0)

The Captains had their best set of the night, but It simply wasn't enough to get back in the match. A hustling, diving, point-saving play by Titan Kennedy Seekford may have been the County breaking point and gave Dominion a 7-3 lead. The Titans' Abigail Vasak and County's Gabriella Morris traded middle net kills and blocks--and the play was intense for a brief period--but after opening up that early lead, Dominion never looked back.

Final Score: Dominion 3 - Loudoun County 0