Bowie Season Ends After Loss to Arundel in Semifinals

COLLEGE PARK -  Last year, they were nervous. This year, they put on a clinic. 

The Arundel High volleyball team looked cool and confident Monday night as it breezed past Bowie High for a 3-0 win, earning a berth into the Class 4A Maryland state championship game.

The Lady Wildcats were never threatened as they won 25-5, 25-11, 25-12, setting up a match Saturday against Sherwood High, who ousted them in the semifinals last year.

“It’s what’s driven us this entire season. It’s been ‘how can we get back to this game again and fix what we did wrong last year?’” Arundel head coach Ashley Yuscavage said.

Players said that unlike in last year's semifinal, they were relaxed and focused despite playing again before a big crowd at Ritchie Coliseum at the University of Maryland.

“This time when I walked in, it was like ‘oh, it seems smaller,” junior middle hitter Ashlee Felton. “I felt more comfortable.”

Both teams entered with perfect records, but appeared that Bowie was the more nervous of the two teams, as Arundel took an early 8-0 lead in the first set behind the strong serving of senior Lindsay Tapley. Bowie would score just five points in the first set, and things continued into the second, as Arundel dropped the first point then went on an 9-1 run before cruising the rest of the way.

The third set was more competitive, as Bowie cut into an early Arundel lead to trail 14-9. But kills by Lindsay Tapley and her twin sister, Ashlyn, and an ace by Shannon Wilks, helped extend the lead. Another kill by Ashlyn Tapley and an ace by Lily Glenn helped set up match point, and Arundel converted when Bowie netted a dig attempt.

Arundel played crisp, clean volleyball while Bowie struggled with nerves, committing eight service errors and 17 errors on attack, with just 10 kills.

“I know these girls, and tonight was not a good representation of their skills and their abilities,” Bowie head coach Eric LeMaster. “They deserved to be here, I just wish they had shown up and brought their ‘A’ Game.”

Ashlyn Tapley and Felton each had five kills for the Wildcats, while Lindsay Tapley had 14 assists. Shannon Kelly added four kills on just five attempts.

In the next few days will fit in a few final practices to get ready for a Sherwood team eager to defend its state title.

“It’s always nerve-wracking, but we saw them last year and we’re going to come in ready,” Lindsay Tapley said. “We’ve been working toward this the whole season, so we’re going to be really mentally prepared for it and give our all.”