THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 13, 1994 TAG: 9411110321
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAN COOLEY, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Although all winning streaks must come to an end, at this point Western Branch Middle School's girls volleyball team looks unbeatable.
Last weekend the Bruins capped their third consecutive undefeated season with their fourth straight Chesapeake Middle School League title. Western Branch topped Great Bridge in three games, 15-5, 15-13, 15-5.
Winning the championship ``is a real tribute to these girls. We put them through a pretty tough schedule, they responded well to it, and it paid off,'' said Bruins coach Linda Pippin.
Western Branch has a 46-game winning streak that dates back to October 8, 1991.
``We were expected to lose this year because we only had two returning starters,'' Pippin said.
A third returning starter sat out much of the year with an injury.
Much to the disappointment of Great Bridge coach Glen Smith, the tournament championship went according to script. The Wildcats finished second in the regular season with an 8-2 record, but both of those losses came against Western Branch.
Initially there was reason for Smith to hope for an upset. In a regular-season game at Great Bridge, the Wildcats narrowly missed ending the Bruins win streak in a close five-game loss.
``As close as we came the last time, we knew they were beatable,'' said Smith. ``But give Western Branch all the credit. They played super (in the finals). They played better today than they did in the regular season. They served and con-trolled the ball well.''
Shelly Gardner (13 points) and Natalie Parker (10) led the Bruins in serving in the championship. The duo finished first and second on the team during the regular season as well, with 138 and 126 points, respectively.
It was the first time in Pippin's years as head coach that Western Branch has had two servers clear the century mark.
Gardner accomplished a rare feat during the regular season, serving out three 15-0 games. She wasn't quite that accurate during the tournament, but Gardner's serving was instrumental in pacing the Bruins to victory.
With Western Branch leading, 10-5, in the first game, Gardner served out the final five points for a 15-5 win. In the final game, Gardner again picked up five straight points to start the game.
Rebecca Reyburn was the only Great Bridge player to hit double figures in service points, finishing with 11. She reeled off nine consecutive points to give the Wildcats new life in the second game.
The Bruins ran out to a quick 7-0 lead, but Reyburn stepped to the line and used her service to propel Great Bridge ahead 10-7 before Western Branch got back on track and scored eight of the next 11 points.
Reyburn's nine straight points marked the only time Western Branch let down in the championship. Other than that run, two straight points was the most the Wildcats could string together on their serves.
``We've had good some good teams, but this year's is one of the best,'' said Pippin. ``This group may be the best we've ever had defensively. They receive the serve better than any of the others.''
Both Western Branch (12-0) and Great Bridge (9-3) received a bye in the first round of the tournament. In the quarterfinals, Deep Creek defeated Crestwood 16-14, 15-5, and Oscar Smith topped Indian River 15-13, 12-15, 15-7.
In the semifinals, Great Bridge dispatched of Deep Creek 15-7, 15-9, and the Bruins handled Oscar Smith 15-6, 15-10. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by GARY C. KNAPP
Shelley Wineken of Great Bridge Middle School spikes the ball onto
the Western Branch side of the net.
Shelley Gardner of Western Branch, left, returns the ball while
Rebecca Reyburn of Great Bridge tries to block it during the Middle
School League championshoip game.
Great Bridge player Joy Gilmore, right, spikes the ball toward a
Western Branch player during the campionship game. The Bruins took
the title for the fourth straight year.
by CNB