THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 18, 1995 TAG: 9510180497
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Courtney Hundley isn't exactly the cheerleader type.
As captain of the Churchland girls volleyball team, Hundley usually lets her play speak for itself. The Truckers' best all-around player, Hundley's dominating game sends a loud enough message that the senior doesn't need to back it up with mere words.
But that all changed early last week when Churchland faced Great Bridge, ranked seventh in The Virginian-Pilot poll and a perennial contender in the Southeastern District.
``She was so pumped up when we played Great Bridge, and that was out of the ordinary,'' said Churchland coach Bobbi Shuler Conrad. ``She was all over the floor.''
Hundley proved to be the difference in that match, as her eight kills and clutch defense helped dispatch the Wildcats, 15-6, 15-13. Against Wilson on Thursday, the Truckers faltered early but Hundley led them back with seven kills in the final game, serving out the match for a 1-15, 15-0, 15-13 win over the Presidents.
For her performances, Hundley was named The Virginian-Pilot female athlete of the week.
``All of us came out pretty psyched against Great Bridge. They were ranked and we knew we had to beat them for a chance to get into the district playoffs,'' said Hundley, the Truckers' only returning starter.
Going into Tuesday's match against Indian River, Churchland was fifth in the district with a 4-5 record, one game behind Great Bridge.
``The crowd was really supportive,'' said Hundley. ``There wasn't a lot of them here, but they were loud.''
As high as the Truckers were after defeating the Wildcats, they certainly came back down to the ground against Wilson.
``The first game was awful. We got yelled at, and we shaped up,'' Hundley said. ``I think after we beat Great Bridge we got it in our heads - at least I did - that we were good. We thought Wilson would be easy.''
A gifted athlete, Hundley also plays guard for the Churchland basketball team and is the centerfielder for the softball team. But volleyball remains her favorite.
``She's been playing real well,'' said Conrad. ``She went to camp last summer and it just made a world of difference for her. She's a leader on the floor.'' by CNB