Lakeland’s boys volleyball program built itself into a major player in the Southeastern District in 2007. This season, Nansemond River joined its city rival in making the district tournament as two Suffolk schools challenged Chesapeake’s usual dominance in the sport.

After the second straight season in which the Cavaliers had a school-best record, head coach Daniel Waller will have some rebuilding to do next season as he loses Russell Carr and Scott Asbell in his senior class.

Carr and Asbell were the centerpieces of Lakeland’s rise in the district in the last two years. Both led the Cavs by example as the Cavaliers certainly didn’t have the most big hitters or the most height compared to other top teams. Instead, Lakeland’s game plan relied on hustle, diving for every dig and save, and making every point as tough as possible for its opponent.

For the Warriors, most of their talented players were underclassmen this season, most notably, Cheynne Maupin, Hayden Champigny and Kyle Briesemeister. All three are athletic forces at the net and they set up Nansemond River and head coach Gene Lietz to pick up right where they left off next fall.

On the girls side, the streak of deep postseason runs by Nansemond-Suffolk came to an end, but that was to be expected after losing many top seniors from 2007 and head coach Shane Foster.

Long-time assistant coach Elizabeth Stello had the task of carrying over everything which worked during Foster’s time building NSA’s girls volleyball program into a state-tournament level one, but doing it with mostly rookies to the varsity squad.

One major consistent on the court was in the one spot experience and consistency can help a team the most, at setter, with junior Mackenzie Westfall. Having a steady leader as the player who touches the ball for nearly every play is similar to the role of a quarterback or point guard.

With an 11-12 overall record, this season didn’t end in the state tournament for the Lady Saints, but there’s not too far to go next season to get back there.

2008 All-Suffolk News-Herald Volleyball Teams

Girls

Mackenzie Westfall, Nansemond-Suffolk (Player of the Year)

Mary Kate Fowler, Nansemond-Suffolk

Danielle Gallagher, Nansemond River

Porshe Garner, Lakeland

Alyssa Grigg, Nansemond-Suffolk

Juliette Thompson, King’s Fork

Bianca Ward, King’s Fork

Jordan Winslow, Nansemond River

Boys

Russell Carr, Lakeland (Player of the Year)

Daniel Archibald, Nansemond River

Scott Asbell, Lakeland

Kyle Briesemeister, Nansemond River

Hayden Champigny, Nansemond River

Chris Hearn, King’s Fork

Cheynne Maupin, Nansemond River

Ray Ramirez, Nansemond-Suffolk