By Tim Tassa -- Daily Staff Writer

STRASBURG — The huddle inside their gymnasium had a deceptive look: A war room, perhaps, reserved for all things Wilson Memorial on Wednesday.

But not even a day since Strasburg's defeat of Mathews in the state quarterfinals and ensuing bus ride home, what looked more like chalk talk was actually a checklist.

"Ands and ifs," "P's and Q's," they said. Items included: Parking arrangements. Check. Hotel rooms. Check. Team warm-up guidelines. Check. Food. Check.

Even for defending Group A state champions, return trips to the Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University, like today's semifinal match at 5 p.m., beckon more than just typical pre-game strategy.

"It was mostly, just you know, what to expect this weekend," said junior Jenna Smoot. "Just different regulations and all the little details we need to know for this."

"It's just going over that so that they're not shocked by how bang, bang, bang it is," head coach Suzanne Mathias said.

A win today and Strasburg can up its stay in Richmond a night longer, playing for the title against the winner of Gate City and Auburn. This for a squad, according to senior Bethany Doman, that would have been satisfied with a Region B tournament berth after losing seven seniors from last year's team.

"It was an overwhelming feeling, being a senior and stuff. I wanted to go as far as I could this season, and we never expected it at all," Doman said. "And just to make it back to VCU, it's an awesome goal — awesome feeling."

Strasburg is familiar with its next opponent, too — just the nostalgia of the Siegel Center doesn't complement the feelings of last Saturday's defeat. The Rams lost to the Hornets in the regional finals 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-23).

It was the Rams' first loss since Sept. 3 against Musselman (W.Va.).

According to Strasburg players, Wilson Memorial came out attacking and established momentum early, beating the Rams on deep-corner and, upon adjustment, short-middle shots.

Lauran Agnew said the Rams didn't move their feet and match the aggression of their opponents, either. Maybe most importantly, the Rams played uptight, Mathias said, a state not conducive for championship-level volleyball.

"Our heads went down, our body language wasn't good, and I think that's why they took it in three [games]," Smoot said.

"We weren't ready," added Mathias. "You could see [Tuesday] night, they were a completely different team, they had the spring back in their step; they were having fun and relaxed and that's what I like to see."

Against Mathews, the Rams made short work of the Region A champions, using the same energy that propelled them to a 22-3 record heading into the match. The Rams lauded their ability to attack and do so with an assortment of players, including Smoot, Doman, Agnew, Jaclyn Ayers and Stephanie Conde.

Strasburg was also dominant from the service line, highlighted by the darts fired by senior Rebecca Coffman. As result, on Wednesday, the players remained upbeat, despite their lopsided defeat not even a week old.

"We just need to play like that and I think we'll be fine," Ayers said of Tuesday's win.

Added Agnew: "Everyone's ready to play them again, go back for revenge. But I think we'll be ready."

Wilson Memorial, which has seven seniors who combine for 20 seasons of varsity experience, swept Northumberland for a spot in the final four.

Kala Guy is the team's most dominant hitter and can play at the net or along the back row. Noel Bartley and Tiffany Crosby are each solid hitters, and Christine Coffield is the Hornets' main setter.

Despite the Rams' serenity at the end of practice, Doman said Mathias "drilled" the team with passes during it, emphasizing digs and targeting the middle on offensive hits.

"We've got a lot of good hitters so we can mix it up pretty well," said Smoot, who had nine kills against Mathews. "When you can attack and keep getting kills it builds momentum and it really the helps the offense run a lot more smoothly."

Doman, Coffman and Shanna Devers are the lone seniors on this year's Strasburg roster. Doman's advice to those not on last year's team: Don't be intimidated.

Doman's teammates will, at least, be comfortably versed in the tournament's dos and don'ts. And some, like Smoot, are well aware of what it takes to leave Richmond happy.

"They probably didn't expect us to make it here, we're probably the underdogs considering everything last year," Doman said. "But I think it's going to be ... like, they're going to be in awe to see us come back."

*Contact Tim Tassa at ttassa@nvdaily.com

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