For Grafton’s volleyball team, which finished second in the Bay Rivers at 15-3 and handed the regular-season champion its only district loss of the season, arguably their toughest opponent this fall may come as a bit of a surprise.
Seventh-seeded Warhill (7-11 BRD), which swept the Clippers 3-0 back in mid-September, nearly pulled off the upset for the second time this season – only this time on a much bigger stage – after taking Grafton to five games in a district-tournament quarterfinal Tuesday night. The second-seeded Clippers pulled out a 15-13 victory in the deciding fifth game.
“It wasn’t pretty,” Grafton coach Dena Montini said after the game. “We easily could have came out on the losing side of things. I don’t know if it was being out of school [Monday] and not having practice, but that’s not an excuse because Warhill was at the same disadvantage.
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Quarterfinal Results
#1 Jamestown def.
#8 Tabb 3-0
#2 Grafton def.
#7 Warhill 3-2
#3 New Kent def.
#6 Poquoson 3-0
#4 York def.
#5 Lafayette 3-0
Semifinals (Thursday)
#1 Jamestown vs.
#4 York, Jamestown High, 7 p.m.
#2 Grafton vs.
#3 New Kent,Grafton High, 7 p.m.
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“We just looked like a completely different team tonight, and not in a good way.”
Christa Hall led the Clippers with 42 assists and 17 digs while senior outside hitter Ashley Lind spiked 24 kills. Kendal Mahoney chipped in with 12 kills for Grafton (16-3), which will host No. 3 New Kent, which swept Poquoson 3-0 Tuesday, in the tournament semifinals on Thursday.
The Clippers split the regular-season series against the Trojans 1-1 as both matchups were decided in five games.
Both teams will likely advance to next week’s Region I tournament – Grafton is guaranteed whereas New Kent will advance as long as no team seeded fourth or lower wins the tournament – however Thursday’s semifinal battle is significant in more ways than one. Beyond earning a spot in Saturday’s tournament championship, the winner will also lock up the Bay Rivers’ No. 2 seed in regionals, which most likely comes with a first-round home game.
Additionally, the number two seed would be on the opposite side of the bracket from top-seeded and defending champion Jamestown and thus not meet the Eagles until the final with a state-tournament berth already clinched. The third seed would have to play at Jamestown in the semis with a state-tournament berth on the line.
“It’s obviously significant in a number of ways,” Montini said. “From a traveling perspective, you don’t want be on the road each game, and the way the bracket works, it sets you up better for a run at the state tournament. There’s definitely a lot at stake.”
As for top-seeded Jamestown, the Eagles rolled past No. 8 Tabb 3-0 (21-25, 25-12, 25-15, 25-16) in their quarterfinal matchup Tuesday.
Kelly Esch turned in a solid all-around performance with 14 kills, 13 digs and four blocks while reigning Player of the Year Brianna Sutton, who’s been limited with shoulder problems much of the season, continued to work her way back into hitting form. Sutton finished with 10 kills, 14 digs and four aces. Setter Monique St. Cyr also played well, finishing with 30 assists and six aces.
The Eagles (22-2) will host No. 4 York, which defeated No. 5 Lafayette in Tuesday’s other quarterfinal, at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The Falcons must win the tournament to move on to regionals.
“York is playing with their season on the line,” Jamestown coach Tom Stephenson said. “They have a really good outside hitter, their libero is excellent and they have height in the middle.
“We’re expecting a tough match.”
