When teammates are friends on and off the court, it creates excellent chemistry, and that can be the key to winning big games. The Thomas Dale boys’ volleyball team knows all about team chemistry, and that has given them the edge in a few close games, including their five-set victory against 6A foe Clover Hill. “They’re all friends on and off the court,” said Thomas Dale coach Josh Forbes. “They all fight and care for each other.” On top of the great chemistry, the team also has a lot of experience. Three seniors on the team have had starting roles…
Browsing: Volleyball
There are a couple of new components in the mix for Matoaca girls’ volleyball this season, one a coach and the other a setter. The Warriors are betting that those two ingredients could be the missing ones to ensure better playoff success in 2016. Both coach Tiara Boyd and setter Makenzy Johnson have come in and made impacts early, as the Warriors have gotten off to a 6-0 start and have their eyes set on a deep postseason run, knocking off traditionally strong north-of-the-river opponents. “Coach Boyd is a new coach, and she’s always open to new ideas and new…
Thomas Dale Girls Volleyball The Knights look to bounce back this season after finishing with a 12-12 record and losing to Clover Hill in the first round of the conference tournament. The loss of standout outside-hitter Sydney Frink was a big blow to the Lady Knights; she had the first team All-Conference honor and ended her career as one of the best players in Thomas Dale girls’ volleyball history. First-year coach Kirk Jennings, a former Thomas Dale baseball standout, believes that this team can be just as good as last year’s team, if not better, with key players returning such…
In the animal kingdom, dolphins are ranked among the best swimmers. Ocean Lakes, who’s mascot is the Dolphins, just couldn’t handle the Rapids. James River drowned Ocean Lakes 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-16) on Friday, winning the 6A State Championship Friday, their third state championship in the past six years. “It was just an incredible feeling to have put in so much hard work since August and be able to accomplish our goal,” said Conference 3 Player of the Year Kyle Brumbaugh. “We set our expectations high and reached them; it’s a testament to how good a team we had.” The…
Colonial Heights coach Mark Lee isn’t always right, but he’s never wrong. Good thing. Under Lee’s guidance and that catchphrase in practice, Colonial Heights boys volleyball team captured the school’s first state championship in any sport since 1986, a span of 29 years. The Colonials defeated Midlothian, 3-1 (25-20, 24-26, 25-19, 25-21) Friday afternoon at the Stuart C. Siegel Center on the campus of VCU. “He is always right,” said senior Stuart Crinkley. “We make a suggestion and he’s always willing to try it, but we’ll end up doing it the way he suggested in the first place. He’s never led…
In outer space, explosions give birth to stars. L.C. Bird’s reemergence into the volleyball scene started in 2013 with the first-ever Conference 12 championship. Lache Harper was just a role player. This year, using her Skyhawk-like wingspan at 6-1, she exploded on the scene as a senior, leading the Skyhawks to their second conference championship in three years, advancing to the region semi-finals, a school best. “It was very important for us as a team to win the conference championship,” Harper said. “It was our goal going into the season.” The Skyhawks lost a lot of college-level talent from last…
Everything came together in the playoffs this year for a young Matoaca girls’ volleyball team. The team is gelling more than ever, and they are going further than anyone expected them to. A thrilling five-set victory over Prince George resulted in a berth in the 5A South region tournament. Freshmen outside hitter Lani Mason, along with freshman Lindsey Temple and junior Emma Eggleton led the charge. “They really step up when I need them,” said All-Conference 12 honoree Eggleton. While the Warriors fell in the Conference 12 championship game to L.C. Bird, they will quickly shift their focus to the…
JAMES RIVER GIRLS Joe Sullivan is always nervous, at least when it comes to volleyball. One may think that a coach with such a technical approach and sound understanding of the game wouldn’t be. “I’m nervous the whole time, I’m always anxious to get here and get things started,” Sullivan said. “My daughter and I talked about it on the way to the game, I’m always nervous.” Sullivan didn’t need to be Thursday night. James River cruised, using a typically strong defensive effort to sweep Cosby 3-0 to bring home the Conference 3 Championship. “I love defense, I coach off a…
In 1994 there was a hit sitcom called Sister-Sister, where Tia and Tamera Landry were identical twins with very different tendencies. While sisters Kendall and Makenzy Johnson aren’t twins, the different tendencies they possess make them dangerous on the volleyball court for James River. The Rapids’ Kendall and Makenzy Johnson form of the the better setter-hitter combinations in the Central Region. Surrounding Kendall on the front line are Baylor-commit Nicole Thomas and Randolph-Macon-commit Alexia Wolfe. The talented quartet comprises one of the most talented front lines in the area. This year, nothing less than a state championship will satisfy the…
This week, one of Thomas Dale’s best volleyball players ever will celebrate her last home game in maroon and grey. That is senior Sydney Frink. “She’s one of the best student athletes I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching,” said coach Aariane Hayes. “Sydney is a kid that’s gotten better every single year.” Frink, the Knights’ standout has firmly planted herself in the record books and the Lynchburg College committed player name may not be going anywhere for a long time. The senior holds single-season and career school records for kills, digs and serve percentage. Frink also added the single-season…