THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995              TAG: 9512150250
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER       PAGE: 26   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   43 lines

TWO SCHOOLS HEADLINE ALL-DISTRICT TEAM WESTERN BRANCH, GREAT BRIDGE EACH PLACE THREE PLAYERS ON ALL-DISTRICT TEAM

In the first year for boys volleyball in the Southeastern District, Great Bridge and Western Branch proved to be ahead of schedule in development, battling each other down the stretch to see who would claim district bragging rights.

The teams proved to be just as evenly matched when it came time for the district coaches to decide which players had earned league honors, as both the Wildcats and the Bruins came away with three selections on the first team of the inaugural All-Southeastern District boys volleyball squad.

Josh Brinkley, a senior middle hitter for Western Branch, earned first-team honors and was named the MVP of the district.

For the Bruins, who lost in three games to Great Bridge in the district tournament final, the selections were an all-senior contingent - Brinkley, outside hitter Eric Steinfort, and setter Andrew Powers. Powers came up big for Western Branch with 15 of 15 serving in a win over Great Bridge in the season's final game, forcing a one-game playoff for top seed in the district tournament.

Two of the Wildcats' selections are seniors - setter Vic Vanderberg and middle hitter Mark Higginbotham - along with a returning player to build around in junior outside hitter Bradford Tibbs.

Rounding out the first team are outside hitters Brian Peterson, a junior from Indian River, and Deep Creek sophomore Matt Turner. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Josh Brinkley, a Western Branch senior middle hitter, earned

first-team honors and was named the overall MVP of the district.

Graphic

All-District Team

by CNB