THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 18, 1995 TAG: 9511181776
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Patrick Henry was quite and patient, demonstrating a strong defensive effort and consistent play. Mills Godwin was thunder and lightning, unleashing perhaps the most powerful hitting unit in the state.
Both styles proved to be winners as the two teams advanced to today's championship game of the AAA state girls volleyball tournament. Game time is 2 p.m. at Tallwood.
Patrick Henry, the Northwest Region winner, defeated Eastern Region runner-up Indian River 15-13, 15-2. Mills Godwin, a two-time state runner-up and Central Region champion, edged Eastern Region winner Salem 15-8, 15-11.
``It's wonderful,'' Patrick Henry coach Marty Swan said. ``We came out really slow. We were real nervous about playing in a state tournament. Once we settled down, we played loose and well.''
Indian River (16-5) and Patrick Henry (20-3) matched up evenly until Braves' setter Linda Johannison went out with a knee injury early in the second game. Although Megan Grinels played well in the position, Indian River never seemed to adjust.
The Braves battled to an 11-6 lead before Patrick Henry responded. The Patriots settled down and fought back to a 12-12 tie as Gene Kent killed a return. The Patriots expanded their lead to 14-12 when Stephanie Ellison came off the bench to serve.
Indian River's LaTisha Grevious served an ace to cut the gap to 14-13, but the Braves lost service. The Braves returned Allison Suggs' serve into the net for the final.
The Patriots stepped up in the second game and took command. They reeled off a 5-0 lead before Johannison was injured. Suggs served nine straight for a 10-0 advantage. Kris Carter tipped the ball over the net to set up match point and the Patriots' win.
Patriot Nicky Kent tallied six kills and six digs and Rebecca Hogan had five kills and six digs.
The Salem-Mills Godwin game was a faster-tempo, hitting game, matching Salem strongarms Jenny Harmon and Misty Colebank against Mills Godwin powerhouses Laura Marcuson and Samantha Kim. Mills Godwin won the duel.
``This is their third year here,'' Salem coach Owen Dixon said of the Eagles. ``They've gotten over their jitters. These are the best and most experienced hitters we've faced. Mills Godwin is a class-and-a-half above everybody else here.''
The Eagles (19-0) and Sun Devils (20-4) traded the lead in the first game, but Salem could never handle Marcuson's pounding kills. When the dust settled, Marcuson had hammered 21 kills and Kim armed 10. Amy Fisher added nine kills.
Jenny Harmon had six kills and nine service points with one ace for the Sun Devils. Bronwyn Blair added three kills and six assists.
In other state volleyball action, boys Eastern Region winner Tallwood and runner-up Cox have been invited to Clover Hill in Midlothian for an unofficial state championship today. Cox plays Central Region winner Clover Hill at 10 a.m. and Tallwood plays runner-up Douglas Freeman at 11:30. The championship game will be played at 2 p.m. by CNB