Last Saturday, Reservoir held its inaugural Gator Invitational Volleyball Tournament, and the outcome featured some familiar foes.

The tournament was the idea of Reservoir coach Carole Ferrante, and featured defending Class 3A defending state champion Northern-Calvert, defending Class 2A state champion Francis Scott Key, No. 1 River Hill, No. 2 Centennial, No. 15 Severna Park, and Montgomery County’s Good Counsel, ranked No. 2 in The Washington Post.

In the championship finals, River Hill defeated Centennial two sets to none (27-25, 25-17) to take the title. The victory avenged a River Hill loss to the Eagles earlier in the week.

“We exorcised a few demons from earlier in the week,” said River Hill coach Lynn Painter. “We played well from beginning to end in the tournament, and we kind of showed what we were made of today.”

Sarah Okey, a four-year varsity starter, had a big tournament. The senior contributed 32 kills, six blocks, and 19 digs in the games leading up to the finals, then 16 kills and a block in the finals against Centennial.

The tournament capped off a busy week for Okey, who accepted a scholarship to Cornell at the beginning of the week.

Centennial advanced to the finals with a three set victory over Good Counsel (25-23, 16-25, 15-12), while the Hawks advanced with a win over host Reservoir (25-13, 25-21).

In other tournament action, third-ranked Mount de Sales won it’s second consecutive Bulldog Invitational Tournament championship at North Caroline in Denton on Sept. 25. The Sailors defeated fourth-ranked Towson in the championship two sets to one (25-19, 22-25, 15-13). Mount de Sales advanced to the finals by beating No. 11 South River in the semifinals, while Towson advanced by beating No. 12 Broadneck in the other semifinal.

-- Mike Frainie