THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 17, 1995 TAG: 9511170622
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 27 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Focus. Confidence. Skill.
With these three elements, the Indian River girls volleyball team is eyeing its first shot at a state championship.
``I'm telling them we've got to get in there and be confident,'' Braves coach Linda Rice said. ``To stay focused in practice and practice the very way they will play in the tournament.''
Indian River debuts in the Group AAA state championship tonight at 7 at Tallwood against Patrick Henry of Roanoke.
The Braves smoked through the regular season, downing all Southeastern District opponents except Western Branch. They continued the streak in the Eastern Region tournament, ousting Peninsula winner Tabb and Beach runner-up Kempsville before falling to Beach champion Salem in the finals. Both teams advanced to the state tournament.
LaTisha Grevious, back row specialist Marie Astudillo and Quina White are expected to continue the dominant play they have shown all season.
``Astudillo's the best thing back there,'' said Rice. ``And LaTisha and Quiana will be very strong at the net for us.''
Rice also is looking for a strong performance from Jennifer Burns.
``Quiana and Jennifer are really working hard in practice,'' Rice said. ``They are totally focused right now.''
Many of her players and others in the district have been practicing at Indian River since the summer. Rice has an ``open gym'' night every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the summer, during which any player in the Hampton Roads area can come in and play. Watching her team perform in these sessions convinced Rice she had potential state championship material.
``I knew from the beginning that I had a strong team,'' Rice said. ``I have open gym during the summer, two boys from Tallwood and several girls came. Watching the girls, I had a very good feeling.''
The feeling translated into the Braves current 16-4 record and title run.
``I'm going out there with every intention of winning,'' Rice said. ``They're working extremely hard in the gym. They know every player there wants to win as bad as they do. We're really excited and glad to be going.'' by CNB