There was no denying the Calvert Hall boys volleyball team of its fourth straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championship yesterday at Boys' Latin, even if it was the Cardinals themselves who were doing the denying.

With Calvert Hall serving for the match twice in the third game, a back-row foul only prolonged the inevitable. Loyola scored one final point before a side out gave the Cardinals the serve once more and in the end the title, 15-8, 15-9, 15-8.

You'll have to excuse senior captain Ted Costello (13 kills, three blocks) for getting antsy. He came from the back row to spike home what looked to be the game-winner. As the crowd stormed the court, Costello was whistled for the foul.

"In the back of your mind you are hoping that is not going to be a big turning point in the match," said Calvert Hall coach Jeff Blake.

Loyola regained the serve and tried to mount a final rally, but after a Cardinals errant hit, senior Brian Trojanowski (14 kills, five blocks) threw down a kill with authority for the side out. Serving for the championship, Trojanowski glanced the ball off Loyola senior Bill Lennon's arm and into the crowd. Once again the Calvert Hall faithful mobbed the court and the Cardinals.

The top-seeded Cardinals (20-1 overall, 19-1 MIAA) were coming off a tough five-game win at home on Wednesday against fourth-seed Boys' Latin in the semifinals, but looked composed against third seed Loyola (19-4, 16-4).

"We came off our worst game of the year, maybe the worst practice, and we came in here and did what we had to do," Trojanowski said.

The first game opened up with two quick ties before the Cardinals jumped to an 8-3 lead. Calvert Hall benefited from good serving throughout from Costello (11 serving points), senior Grant Martin (nine) and freshman jump-server Tom Montegna (10).

"We were a little jumpy from the start. It took us a little while to settle down," said Loyola coach John Riggle.

In the second game the Cardinals used an 8-0 run to take a commanding 12-5 lead.