THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 13, 1994 TAG: 9410130602
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
Cox boys volleyball coach Bruce Stewart said there's no mystery surrounding the Falcons' undefeated record and perch atop the Beach District standings.
``A lot of my boys played with the Tidewater Volleyball Association and played beach volleyball all year,'' Stewart said. ``We've got a lot of guys who know what they're doing, and we're able to run some special plays a lot of the other teams either don't know or don't try.''
Key players in the Falcons' 10-0 start include Forrest Carr, who has 135 kills, Mike Dierstein, who averages roughly seven kills a game, 6-foot setter and national merit scholar Gerard Brunick and junior defensive specialist David Rose.
But the Falcons aren't celebrating their fast start yet, because they still have to tangle with defending district champion Tallwood.
The Lions won three-set matches over Cox in both the regular season and the district tournament last year.
This year, despite huge graduation losses, Tallwood will take a 9-1 record into next Tuesday's 5:30 showdown with the Falcons at Cox.
``(Tallwood coach) David Earley has done a great job,'' Stewart said.
``And after what happened last year, I'm sure our guys will have some revenge on their minds. Should be an interesting game.''
SCORING MACHINE: Kari Harrell's two goals in Monday's 2-0 victory over York gave her 49 for her career, seven short of the Bay Rivers District record.
Harrell, a junior at Nansemond River, will be trying to reach the 50 mark today when the first-place Warriors visit Lakeland at 3:30 p.m.
The Cavaliers will be looking for their first victory over their intra-city rivals.
While Nansemond River has been building steadily toward a league title for years, the Warriors have benefited from the departure of Tabb to the Group AAA Peninsula District.
The Tigers were clearly the league's dominant field hockey team, and were also a golf power, winning the Bay Rivers last year. This year, Nansemond River is celebrating its first district golf title.
And in football, Tabb won or shared the league crown all five years of the Bay Rivers' existence.
This year's title is likely to be won by either undefeated Southampton, which hasn't finished first since tying Tabb in 1990; unbeaten York, which has never won the Bay Rivers; or once-beaten Nansemond River, whose only first-place finish was a three-way tie with Smithfield and Tabb last season.
TENNIS ANYONE: Booker T. Washington coach Paul Palombo has spent several days preparing his team for a showdown with Warwick in next week's Eastern Region tournament.
Which would be great, except Warwick didn't make the tournament.
Lafayette nosed out the Raiders for second place in the Peninsula District, and will face the Eastern District champion Bookers either Monday or Tuesday in the first round of the region.
And how about Western Branch? The Bruins, unheralded at the beginning of the season, came on strong down the stretch, then won playoff matches over Churchland and Deep Creek to nab the Southeastern District's second region berth.
The Bruins' reward?
A match at powerful First Colonial, the unbeaten Beach District champion and the favorite to win the region title.
The other region matchups: Beach runner-up Cox at Southeastern champion Great Bridge and Eastern runnerup Granby at Peninsula champion Ferguson.
The semifinals will be held Thursday at Owl Creek Municipal Tennis Center, with the final set for Friday. The top two teams advance to the Group AAA state tournament Nov. 1 at the sites of the region champions. The state semifinals and final will be played at Owl Creek.
FLORIDA BOUND: First Colonial's baseball players, who have often wondered how they'd fare against some of the country's best teams, are about to find out.
The Patriots will play in the eight-team Diamond Jubilee National Invitational April 10-14 in Ocala, Fla.
``It'll be kind of a gauge to let us know how good our program is, and how good Virginia baseball is compared to other states,'' Patriots coach Norbie Wilson said.
If national rankings are any indication, the perception of baseball around these parts isn't real strong. Two years ago, the Patriots finished 28-0 and won the Group AAA state title, but were consistently ranked below teams with four and five losses in the USA Today and Baseball America polls, Wilson said.
In addition to measuring its program against others, the Invitational will also showcase the Patriots' seniors for college scouts, Wilson said.
``We've got five or six seniors who are definitely worth looking at (by the scouts),'' Wilson said.
Now all the Patriots need to do is raise money - lots of it.
The team hopes to generate $10,000 by selling 200 $100 raffle tickets.
The lone prize is $10,000.
The drawing will be held during First Colonial's homecoming game against Kellam Nov. 4.
For more information, call Phil Booth at 431-0146; Ann Brown at 481-1606; Ed Manley at 340-8042; or Lou Tetlow at 498-3909. by CNB