Grafton volleyball coach Dena Montini is used to competing for Bay Rivers District titles this time of year. While there will be no regular-season championship banner hanging from the Clippers’ wall this season, Tuesday’s dramatic five-game victory over previously unbeaten (in the BRD) Jamestown was far from meaningless.
The Clippers (14-3 Bay Rivers) outlasted the visiting Eagles (16-1 Bay Rivers) 8-25, 25-17, 12-25, 28-26, 15-13 in a back-and-forth battle. The victory not only kept Grafton in a share for second place in the Bay Rivers along with New Kent, but should also provide the Clippers with enough points to edge the Trojans for the number two seed should the two sides end the regular season in a tie.
“We’ve struggled with inconsistency all year, and tonight was an example of that, but we managed to string together points when we needed them,” Montini said. “I told my team all season long that I thought they were the best team all season, and maybe now that they beat the best team, we can start believing it.
It’s definitely a boost (moving forward).”
Grafton was led by senior hitter Ashley Lind, who Montini said turned in one of the best all-around performances of her career. Lind finished with a career-high 32 kills, putting her over 1,000 for her career, to go along with seven digs and three blocks. Kendall Mahony chipped in with 14 kills and Christa Hall finished with 50 assists and nine digs.
Grafton will close out the regular season against York on Thursday. Jamestown, which has already clinched its second-straight district title, will host Warhill.
As for the rest of Tuesday’s results:
Warhill def. Tabb 25-22, 25-22, 26-24
Colby Norris tallied 19 kills, 4 digs, 3 aces and a block and Megan Harrigan added 29 assists and 11 digs as Warhill improved to 7-10 in the Bay Rivers. Rachel Lockwood added 14 digs and three aces, and Morgan Mallory contributed 5 kills, 7 digs and 3 aces.
New Kent def. Smithfield 25-9, 25-9, 25-14
Karley Allen’s 12 kills, 8 assists and 9 digs boosted New Kent to 14-3 in the Bay Rivers as the Trojans remained in a second-place tie with Grafton heading into Thursday’s regular-season finale against Bruton.
Poquoson def. Bruton 3-0
