THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 9, 1995 TAG: 9511090543
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
The Cox Falcons made one critical mistake. They let Tallwood get on a roll.
Not once, but twice.
The Tallwood Lions (21-1) trailed practically all night Wednesday, but rallied back in the first and third games to win the Eastern Region with a 15-8, 13-15, 19-17 victory over Cox.
The Falcons took an 8-2 lead early and appeared to have the game won, but Tallwood stepped up. Kevin Jones opened his 24-kill match performance, pacing the Lions to a 13-unanswered point comeback.
Tallwood was unable to carry the momentum into the second game. Kevin Riley dominated the net for the Falcons, scoring three straight points to put the Falcons up 8-5. Tallwood again tied the game, but Cox pulled away.
In the third game the Falcons paced a 10-4 lead. They pushed the margin to 13-4 on the heat of Josh Zuidema and Kevin Murphy's hitting and blocking.
Just when it appeared it might be over, the Lions exploded.
Jones, Chuck Beeson and Patrick Rooney took over the net and closed the gap to 12-13, then took a 14-13 lead. Six players served into a 14-14 tie, but neither team could score.
Finally, Tallwood trailed 16-17. A Cox error and Jones kill put the Lions at match point. Amid the noisy raucous of the gym, Mac Hall lined up and blocked Cox the final shot.
``I knew this was a great team,'' Hall said. ``Nobody ever gave up.''
Beeson tallied 16 kills, Hall posted six kills with eight blocks, Rooney had 11 kills and Griffon added eight kills and six blocks.
Zuidema armed 19 kills, Adam Dierstein had 10, Owen Matter hit nine and Riley and Murphy each cracked 11. by CNB