The volleyball train continued to roll for the Barrington High School girl's team Monday night as the Eagles cruised to a 3-0 victory over Tolman High School, 25-16, 25-18, 25-17. Barrington, co-owners of the top spot in the class B-North standings with Cranston East, improved its league record to a perfect 7-0 on the season.

The Eagles' defense-first, smooth-passing style has successfully frustrated opponents. The team has dropped just two games this season and won the other six by 3-0 scores. With over half the season already in the books, it's safe to say Barrington is a contender for the Class B crown.

There is nothing flashy about the Eagles' fundamental play. In a volleyball race they personify the tortoise far more than the hare. They grind out each point by inviting, and then insisting, that their opponent make an error before they do. It's their passive-aggressive nature that tends to lull their foes into a false sense of security just long enough to steal off with a win.

Monday night was no different.

The Eagles employed their bend-but-do-not-break strategy, wore down their counterparts and capitalized on inevitable breakdowns.

The Eagles traded points early in the opening set but a Michelle Bookless ace at 9-9 put the Eagles out in front to stay. Toward the end of the first set the Eagles began to develop a rhythm... bump, set, kill — and rode it to a six-point run. The spurt stretched the lead from 15-13 to 21-13. From there, the hosts rode the hot serving hand of Kayla Hood to the first-game finish line and an early 1-0 lead.

That lead would not be relinquished as the second set played out in much the same fashion as the first. The Eagles used a seven point run at 8-7 to earn a sizable lead and cruised to a 2-0 lead.

In the final game, both teams battled sloppy play. The Eagles' usually precise sets drifted from their intended target too often. The home team also committed four service faults.

Fortunately, the Tigers drifted even further off rhythm. Tolman committed seven unforced errors and seven more faults that allowed the Eagles to erase an early deficit and capture the 3-0 win.

Michelle Bookless led her team with seven kills and Kayla Hood had six service points. Megan Bookless zipped a pair of aces and Sue Cipoletti and Megan Bookless each added four kills.

Despite their win and their rank within the division, coach Ron Enos still sees room for improvement this season.

"Today wasn't too bad," said the coach. "There are still some obvious things that need improvement. We have some ball control issues. We didn't have much of an attack going for us tonight. There were a lot of easy balls coming over and we didn't take advantage of it.

"Honestly I don't feel as though we are as good as our record indicates. I've told them that. I don't think that we've played our best volleyball yet and I think the team feels the same way. That's still something for us to shoot for."

One reason to believe that the Eagles' best volleyball still lies in front of them is the continued absence of all-division setter Nina Mann. Out since the season's first week, Mann looked on from the sideline where the senior has spent the month nursing a bruised shin and a resulting infection.

"She was kicked during the first game of the season," explained Enos. "It developed into a bruise and she had some complications resulting from that. It's become a minor yet nagging injury for her. She's really struggling with it. She is slowly but surely making her way back. She is off crutches walking around so we're optimistic that she'll be back toward the end of the season."

In the meantime Enos has turned to Hood to fill the void. She performed solidly in Mann's absence Monday night.

"She gets to all of the balls," said the coach. "She doesn't place them as well as she can just yet but she's still learning."

When Mann eventually does return, her experience will provide Enos with added depth when his team makes its push in the Class-B playoffs. The only question now is whether the team can make that push and maintain an unblemished record.

"I really don'' think there's any pressure," Enos said. "Right now we're taking advantage of a weaker division. We know that out on the horizon are some teams that are going to be better than the first time we played them. So we take it one day at a time and fortunately we've been able to stay focused and not really worry about the wins and losses."

By Adam Cote

sports@eastbaynewspapers.com