THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 18, 1994 TAG: 9411160110
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
WESTERN BRANCH is a program accustomed to winning.
The Bruins have been among the elite girls' volleyball teams in the Southeastern District for a decade. By successfully defending their Eastern Region title last week with a 4-15, 15-6, 15-11 win over rival Indian River, Western Branch advanced to the state tournament for the second straight year.
The Bruins (17-3) will take on Mills Godwin at 7 p.m. Friday at Manchester High School in Midlothian. Western Branch faced the Eagles earlier this season in tournament play, losing three games to two in a pool competition.
``They are the mirror image of ourselves,'' said Western Branch coach Jim Stanko. ``They make the same good plays and the same mistakes as we do.''
Mills Godwin (19-1) nearly didn't make it to the state tournament, as the Eagles were upset by L.C. Bird in the finals of the Central Region tournament. Because the Central Region is the host site, both the winner and runner-up in the region tournament were allowed to advance.
In last year's state tournament, the first for girls' volleyball in Virginia, Western Branch lost to eventual champion Hylton in the semifinals. Hylton (22-0) will put the title on the line against L.C. Bird (22-3) in Friday's second semifinal.
The championship final is Saturday at 2 p.m. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Indian River's Robyn Clark warms up before the Eastern Region
Volleyball Championship Tournament.
Kempsville's Kelly Sisley (20) drives the ball past Western Branch
players during the Eastern Region tournament.
by CNB