DATE: Wednesday, November 5, 1997           TAG: 9711050496

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAY LIDINGTON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   50 lines

G. BRIDGE, TALLWOOD ADVANCE TO THE SEMIS THE WILDCATS PLAY SALEM AND THE LIONS PLAY INDIAN RIVER TONIGHT.

Frayed nerves were more prevalent than surprises as Great Bridge and Tallwood advanced to the semifinals of the Eastern Region volleyball tournament.

The tournament host Tallwood Lions withstood a tough Churchland team to win, 16-14, 15-10, and Great Bridge defeated Norview 15-10, 15-2.

Great Bridge plays Salem and Tallwood plays Indian River tonight in the semifinals. The games start at 6 and 7:30 p.m.

The Wildcats fell behind Norview 7-0 in their first game, but came back to win the next 10 points and the game.

``I told them to keep their heads up and play with their hearts,'' Great Bridge's Melissa Morgan told her teammates in a first-game timeout.

``Coach said we just needed to get it together.''

Great Bridge, the Southeastern District tournament runnerup, went on to defeat the Pilots 15-2 in the second game.

Morgan finished the game with 12 kills and 6 service points. Three of those were aces. Setter Adrianne Tibbs added 15 assists for Great Bridge.

``We pretty much stayed with our standard offense,'' said Wildcats coach Sheri Lankford. ``(Wednesday) obviously the level will continue to pick up.''

Tallwood also trailed Churchland, falling behind 14-9 before reeling off seven straight points to win the first game, 16-14.

The Lions led all the way in a close second game, 15-10, and were led by senior Amy White's 10 kills.

``She always gets overlooked,'' said Lions coach Angela Hubner. ``She and Sarah (Neaves) are basically our hitters.

``Sarah had a bad night. Maybe Amy was hitting the ball a little harder just to make sure.''

Neaves had 12 digs and 21 serves despite a lackluster game which had her matched against multiple Churchland blockers.

Tallwood setter Arlene Pineda had 25 assists.

``We overlooked them,'' Hubner said of the Truckers. ``We knew we had to play well against Indian River.''

Today will be pivotal for Great Bridge in more than one way. They'll find out this morning if their best passer, Shelley Wineken, will be able play in tonight's game after sitting out two weeks with an ankle injury.

The Wildcats had already suffered a setback the loss of another passer, senior Amanda Hebert, who has been out with asthma and spinal problems.

``Morgan has been consistent as far as her level of performance,'' Lankford said.

``It's been a case of her maintaining that high level and some of the other girls stepping into positions near them.''

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