THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 TAG: 9611060630
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER EAST REGION VOLLEYBALL
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 63 lines
The Cox Falcons and Salem Sun Devils advanced through the first round of the Eastern Region girls volleyball tournament Tuesday night at Tallwood.
But it wasn't as easy as many had predicted. It was supposed to be an All-Beach night, but somebody forgot to tip off Melissa Morgan to that fact. The Great Bridge junior was aggressive at the net, leading the Wildcats opposition to a struggling Cox squad.
The Falcons finally overcame their slump in the third game for a 15-12, 10-15, 15-2 victory. Salem easily advanced past Booker T. Washington 15-2, 15-4.
Morgan manned the Wildcats' early attack, tallying 14 kills with one dig and two blocks.
``I knew we had to play really, really hard and just get out there and keep our heads up,'' Morgan said. ``I think we could have done better. We kind of got down on ourselves.''
Conversely, the Falcons struggled early, overcoming a 10-5 deficit in the first game to rally for the victory. The second game looked like a duplicate of the first, with the Wildcats posting a 9-1 lead before the Falcons regrouped. Cox cut the gap to 12-10 but Amanda Hererr held serve for the match.
``I'm not sure what team played the first two games,'' Cox coach Claire Le Blanc said. ``Great Bridge deserves credit, they were scrappy and good on the offspeed balls, Morgan played very well and Joy Gilmore played smart.''
The Falcons have been idle since the middle of last week, when they were eliminated in the Beach District tournament for their first loss of the season. However, Le Blanc nor senior Alison Foy would accept that as an excuse.
``We practiced during the break, every day,'' Foy said. ``I think not winning made us want it more. We want to play Salem again.''
Foy keyed the Falcons' comeback, tallying nine crucial kills, including the match-winner.
``I just felt like I was on tonight,'' Foy said. ``I didn't feel like I was nervous, just that we had to win it.''
Brooke Stefansson paced the Falcons with 13 kills and five digs. Setter Katherine Dunford had 36 assists with four kills and nine digs.
Cox (17-1) plays Churchland (13-1) tonight at 7:30.
The Sun Devils dominated Booker T. Washington from the opening serve. Salem (15-5) just completed an emotional run through the Beach District tournament.
Coach Owen Dixon wanted the Sun Devils to be calm against Booker T. (10-3), the Eastern District tournament runnerup, and be prepared to ignite in tonight's 6 p.m. match against Southeastern District champion Indian River (13-3).
Salem junior Renee Dorko, who had four kills and two aces, said the Sun Devils' were still riding the emotional wave that carried them into the regional tournament berth.
Following the game, Dorko was eyeing tonight's 6 p.m. matchup with Indian River (13-3).
``I think it's going to be a better game than (Tuesday),'' Dorko said. ``Hopefully, we can triumph.''
Jenny Harmon led the Sun Devils with seven kills two aces and four digs. ILLUSTRATION: MIKE HEFFNER
THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Cox's Karri Attinger, left, and Lydia Cuthrell team up for a return
during Tuesday's volleyball match with Great Bridge. by CNB