THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 25, 1996 TAG: 9602230188
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
The Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools girls volleyball programs continued to gain strength this year with a flood of young talent and improved play.
Norfolk Academy had to work a little harder for its fourth straight title and saw its 47-match win streak come to a halt during the regular season. Norfolk Collegiate finished second for the third year after two five-game matches against Norfolk Academy, one in the regular season and one in the championship match.
Katie Sherwood was the guiding light for Greenbrier Christian as it broke into the upper level of conference play, handing the Bulldogs their first defeat in a non-conference game before finishing fourth in the final standings. The sophomore nailed 84 percent of her serves, 81 percent of her hits and 44 percent of her kills. Her efforts earned her the honorary captain title on the All-TCIS volleyball team, as voted by the TCIS coaches.
``I was really surprised because I'm only a tenth-grader,'' Sherwood said. ``My athletic director Ed Bailey told me first that I had made first team all conference. Then he told me that I was honorary captain and had gotten the most votes. I was like, `Oh, my gosh. Are you serious?' At first I was in total denial.''
Seniors Allison Williams (Nansemond-Suffolk Academy) and Jessica Hirsch (Norfolk Academy), juniors Elizabeth Swearingen (Norfolk Collegiate) and Stephanie Adams (Hampton Roads Academy) and sophomore Caroline Keenan (Peninsula Catholic) were selected to the first team.
Williams collected 55 kills, 42 digs, 22 saves and 12 blocks during the regular season. She had an 80 percent success rate in serving with 19 aces.
Hirsch was a deadly server 82 percent of the time with 30 aces. She had an 84 percent attack rating with 57 kills, 80 assists and saved 69 percent of her dig attempts.
Swearingen had 89 blocks and led the Oaks in kills with 134.
In 13 matches, Keenan served with a 75 percent accuracy, including 31 aces. She also had 145 kills and 29 blocks. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
The members of the first team are, front row, from left: Jessica
Hirsch, Katie Sherwood and Allison Williams. Back row, from left:
Caroline Keenan, Stephanie Adams and Elizabeth Swearingen.
by CNB