Boys volleyball: Loyola outlasts Gilman

Sparked by the superb play of senior Alec Dauses, visiting Loyola Blakefield rallied for a 25-23, 19-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-10 win over rival Gilman.

Dauses, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter, finished with 31 kills, seven digs and three aces in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference match.

"His performance was nothing short of amazing," Loyola coach Tim Baier said. "He was hitting from everywhere and had great passing. He is a good floor general."

Loyola also received standout performances from Bennett Bradley (17 kills) and J.B. Boeri (11 kills).

Tom O"Neill (19 kills, 12 digs), Galen Rende (18 kills, 6 digs), Davis Fisher (26 assists) and Brett Brodsky (21 assists) led Gilman.

It was the hitting of Dauses that led the Dons to victory in Game 1.

Gilman rebounded to win games 2 and 3, in part because of the blocking of Brandon Casas.

"When we needed blocks in games 2 and 3, we came up big," Gilman coach Neil Gabbey said. "That's where we got the momentum. When we needed blocks in Game 4, when it was really tight, we didn't get the blocks."

Loyola trailed, 14-10, in Game 4, but the Dons closed with a 15-6 spurt. Matt Verderamo served the last five points to complete the game.

The Dons kept the pressure on in the final game. Neither team led by more than a point until Loyola finished on a 5-0 run.

"We won because of perseverance," Baier said. "Those are young kids out there, some of whom never have played in an A Conference match before. They really showed up against a strong, tall and experienced Gilman team."