Churchill Cruises to Win Over Watkins Mill

Article by Brandy Simms; photos by Sebastian Montes

After struggling through their 2010 campaign, Watkins Mill girls’ volleyball has shown flashes of potential but has still stumbled to an 0-3 start.

Watkins Mill started this season by losing competitive matches to Rockville and Quince Orchard, then fell to Churchill on Thursday in three sets, 25-17, 25-11 and 25-20.

"We’re 0-3 to start the season," said Watkins Mill head coach Jody Tyler. "[That’s] not the way I was looking to start."

Watkins Mill standout freshman Caroline Hanson was injured early in Thursday’s match but later returned.

"It was hard that one of their really strong players got hurt in the first game," said Churchill first-year head coach Cindy Hillard, who has helped guide the Bulldogs to a 3-0 start. "I think it kind of took them out of it mentally because everybody was really worried about her. But she came back in in the last match and you could tell [the difference in their performance]. Their score was up so I think they played hard. I think they’ve got a lot of potential."

Tyler said she has been impressed with the performance this year of players such as Andrea Falcon, Millie Pryphun, Joseph Mbouma and Janessa Fauntroy, among others.

"I think we’re going to be competitive in every game," Tyler said. "It’s just a matter of believing that we can win and having that mentality."

And despite a less than spectacular start to the 2011 campaign, Tyler is still optimistic about the Wolverines’ chances.

"I don’t think we’re playing necessarily a lot of the top echelon teams in the county," said Tyler, "but we’re playing all of the upper level teams pretty consistently."