Herndon defeats South Lakes in Boys Volleyball
- The Reston Letter Staff
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
by Matt Reider, Staff Writer
Although Boys Volleyball has returned as a varsity sport at South Lakes High School for only two years, the traditional rivalry with nearby Herndon remains strong. The two teams met Nov. 6 in the first round of the Virginia State Regional Tournament, Class 6, Region D.
South Lakes finished the season with a 16-8 overall record and was second in the Concorde District at 8-4. Herndon also finished 16-8 but placed third in the Liberty Region with a 3-4 record.
The game was hosted at South Lakes, which had defeated Herndon 3-1 in a late-September matchup. Herndon, however, came in as the more established team, led by nine seniors including Max McDermott, who averaged 3.4 kills per set, and Rafael Baez, who totaled 31 blocks. Senior Mason Harris led Herndon in service aces with 59 for the season. South Lakes’ leaders included seniors Shaheer Salarzai, Andrei Saycon, and Micah Capati. Capati earned all-district honors, along with sophomore Younus Quraishi and junior Anand Gautham, who was named Libero of the Year.
With the schools only eight miles apart, both teams enjoyed strong fan support, and the crowd witnessed an exciting contest. South Lakes led the first set the entire way, winning 25-20. In the second set, Herndon surged to a 12-8 lead before a South Lakes timeout sparked a brief comeback, closing the gap to 22-19. Herndon secured the set, tying the match at one apiece, and dominated the third set 25-14.
The fourth set was a back-and-forth battle, with ties at 18, 21, and 22 points. South Lakes edged ahead 24-22 after a decisive cross-court serve from Xander Holmes and captured the set to force a fifth and final set.
The fifth set was tense. Herndon led early, 4-1, before South Lakes fought back to 5-4. The lead changed hands several times, with neither team able to pull away. Herndon finally took control late, scoring four of the final five points to win 15-14 and advance in the playoffs.
For South Lakes’ seniors, the loss was emotional. They were pioneers in reviving a sport that returned to varsity status after a 20-year absence and represented their school with distinction. Herndon and its fans celebrated their hard-fought victory, although the following week they fell to McLean, 3-0.
Both schools demonstrated skill, determination, and competitive spirit. With such close matches and impressive seasons, this rivalry shows no signs of slowing down.