THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 11, 1996 TAG: 9602090199
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
A LOSS BY the Nansemond River girls volleyball team last week has rejuvenated other Bay Rivers teams as they prepare for the upcoming district tournament.
``It gives everybody hope that they're not going to wrap up the (district) coach Suzanne Rice after Franklin's 18-16, 15-13 win over the Warriors Thursday. ``Everybody likes to stick to the old adage, `Anybody can be beaten on any given day.' ''
Nansemond River (14-1 overall, 10-1 Bay Rivers) had not lost a district match since the 1993-94 season and had beaten district opponents in nearly 40 straight matches.
``It's like getting a monkey off our back,'' said Warriors coach Nancy Richey. ``Somebody had to do it, and Franklin's a good team. It takes the pressure off (our players).''
Richey said the loss to Franklin came because of a number of things.
``Usually, if I had one girl having a bad night, the rest of them picked up the slack,'' said Richey, whose players committed 23 more unforced errors against Franklin than they average. ``I had three or four having a bad night. That's hard to make up. Franklin was on their game and we weren't.''
The loss put the Warriors in a tie with Bruton in first place with three games remaining. Nansemond River was scheduled to host the Panthers Friday. The district's regular season champion gets an automatic bid to the regional tournament, while the other region participant will be decided at the district tournament, which begins Saturday at Nansemond River.
The championship game is Feb. 19 at Nansemond River. If the same team is regular season and tournament champion, the other tournament finalist goes to the regional.
``(Bruton is) definitely a big threat,'' Richey said, ``but Lakeland looks like they're peaking at the end of the season.''
Rice said the Cavaliers (7-8 overall, 6-5 district), who are tied with Franklin for fourth place, could cause problems for other teams in the tournament.
``We're just as good as anybody else if we serve well and communicate on the court,'' Rice said. ``Serving has been our nemesis, though.''
The region finalists will play in the state tournament beginning Feb. 27. The state semifinals and final will be held at Jefferson Forest High School. ILLUSTRATION: HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER
Kristy Cornett bumps the ball in a match against Nansemond River.
Lakeland's Kelly Lewis loses a tip in a recent match against
cross-town rival Nansemond River.
JUST THE FACTS
What: Bay Rivers District girls volleyball tournament.
When: Saturday at 2 p.m. and Monday at 5 p.m.
Where: Nansemond River High School
What's at stake: Champion advances to the regional tournament.
Participating schools: Nansemond River, Lakeland, Franklin,
Smithfield, Southampton, Bruton, York, Poquoson.
by CNB