THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 9, 1994 TAG: 9411090525
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Western Branch had the Eastern Region title in hand and nearly let it slip away.
After squandering an eight-point lead in the final game against Indian River, the Bruins regained focus and repeated as region champions Tuesday with a 4-15, 15-6, 15-11 victory over the Braves at Tallwood.
``We lost our concentration,'' said Western Branch captain Evie Benson. ``We felt the win coming and relaxed when we shouldn't have.''
At one point in the third game, the Bruins held an 11-3 advantage. Then, everything that could go wrong, did.
Jeannine Simpson, the Braves' best server, reeled off three points to narrow the lead. Western Branch then started making mistakes, hitting the ball long or into the net, and not reacting to Indian River's volleys, allowing the Braves to tie the game at 11.
The Bruins went ahead on a block by Katie MacPhail and a tap over the net by Jaci Morris. Indian River's Robyn Clark was called for carrying the ball to give Western Branch match point, and Rachel Tyler hit a shot around the net on a bad set to give the Bruins their second straight region title.
Western Branch will travel to Manchester High School in Richmond on Nov. 18 for the first round of the state tournament. The Bruins will face the Central Region runner-up at 7 p.m.
Indian River and Western Branch were anything but unfamiliar with each other, having already played three times. The Braves took two matches during the regular season; the Bruins scored a win in the Southeastern District final.
``I told the kids that we were in a war. They had won two battles and we had won one,'' said Western Branch coach Jim Stanko. ``You don't like playing the same team this many times, but given the outcome, I'm glad we did.''
The Bruins (14-2) looked anything like warriors in the first game. Indian River went on a 10-0 run early in the game, and Western Branch was never a factor.
``We didn't play as aggressively as we should have,'' Morris said. ``But then we came out pumped in the second game.''
The Bruins gave as good as they got in the second game, running out to a 13-3 lead as Indian River struggled to stay on its game.
``Both teams wanted it tonight, it just came down to who made the fewest mistakes,'' said Braves coach Linda Rice.
In the semifinals, Western Branch dispatched Kempsville (19-2) with a solid 15-7, 15-9 win. Indian River had a tougher time, going the distance with Salem in a 15-7, 8-15, 15-8 victory over the Sun Devils (16-5). ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER photo
Kempsville's Kelly Sisley works the volleyball at Calre Morris,
left, and Amanda Atkins of Western Branch Tuesday night.
by CNB