THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 2, 1994 TAG: 9411020615
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
The third time proved to be the charm for Western Branch Tuesday night as the Bruins defeated Indian River for the first time this season with a 15-10, 15-12 win in the finals of the Southeastern District girls' volleyball tournament at Oscar Smith High School.
The Braves handed Western Branch two five-game losses in the regular season.
``We definitely didn't want to lose to them three times in a row,'' said Sarah Wolf. ``I think in the end we just wanted it more.''
After warming up with a tough win over Great Bridge, 15-10, 15-11, in the semifinals, the Bruins (12-2) came out on fire against Indian River and surged to an 8-0 lead in the first game on good serves and solid play at the net by Amanda Adkins.
Western Branch extended its lead to 13-1 before the Braves (12-2) started chipping away. Elizabeth Morgan, Rachel Tyler, and Jeannine Simpson each reeled off two service points to draw Indian River within 14-8.
Deonna Lucas stepped to the line and served two more points before the Bruins earned a side out. At match point, Evie Benson served a bullet into the left corner of the court that Lucas couldn't return.
``We had a whole game break in between, and we came out a little cold,'' Simpson said. The Braves took on Deep Creek in the first semifinal match and advanced with an easy win, 15-3, 15-3. ``We didn't have the test that they did (in the semis).''
If the first game served as a wake-up call to Indian River, it was difficult to tell.
Western Branch took the court for the second game and again went out to an 8-0 lead behind the serving of Benson, Adkins, and Wolf. After the seventh point, Braves coach Linda Rice called a timeout to try to settle her team's nerves. Bruins coach Jim Stanko used the break to do the same.
``Just like in the first game, we got ahead and stopped attacking,'' Stanko said.
Indian River sensed that Western Branch was sitting back, and took advantage. The Braves sliced the lead in half on solid net play and several bad sets by the Bruins.
With the hot hand from the service line, Lucas stepped up and reeled off four straight points to tie the game at 11-11. Western Branch took the next serve, and Cathy Arnette fooled Indian River with a cleverly disguised tap over the net to earn a side out for the Bruins.
Katie MacPhail served Western Branch to a 14-12 lead, and Benson ended the game with a kill that Indian River's Maria Astudillo got a hand on but couldn't return.
``We know we let them back in it, and we just had to stay up and try to focus,'' Benson said. ``Today we played one of the best games we've played all year.'' by CNB