Tough break for NR
Published 10:34 pm Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Both of Great Bridge High School’s volleyball squads were undefeated heading into Monday evening’s matches at Nansemond River and both Wildcat teams left River undefeated.
In the girls’ match, Great Bridge had little problem in a three-set sweep over the Lady Warriors, 25-12, 25-8, 25-20.
The boys’ contest was a matchup of two undefeated teams within the Southeastern District. Great Bridge, the defending champions in the district, was too solid for the Warriors even as Nansemond River made each set interesting. The Wildcats won in a sweep, 25-22, 25-20, 25-17.
The Lady Warriors (3-2, 2-2) stayed close with Great Bridge only in the final set. NR led through most of the early part of the set and a block by C.J. Wood edged NR back in front at 11-10.
Great Bridge won three of the next four points to retake the lead and the Lady Wildcats kept the lead the rest of the way.
Courtney Lowers led Nansemond River with five kills. Two away matches, at Lakeland on Tuesday and at Western Branch on Thursday, were next up for NR.
In the boys’ match, the first two sets were up for grabs until Great Bridge hung on in the first set and put together a late rally in the second set.
Great Bridge jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the opening set before NR rallied to get within a point. The Wildcats led 21-15, but NR tried to come back again. The Warriors got to within two points down, at 22-20 and 23-21, both times on Josh Howard-to-Cheynne Maupin kills. A serving error by Maupin gave GB point 24 and the Wildcats closed out the set.
In set two, Great Bridge led 15-10 before NR used a 4-1 run to get close again and force a Wildcat timeout. The Warriors (4-1, 3-1) were equally athletic and equally hard-hitting at times against the top team in the district, but consistency was the deciding difference.
A block by Maupin tied the set at 16 and a block by Kerrington Harris put NR up 17-16. Nansemond River led 20-18 before the Wildcats rolled to seven straight points to win the set and take command of the match.
In the third set, a 6-1 run by NR cut the Wildcat advantage to 17-14, but that was as close as the Warriors could get.
Howard finished with 18 assists. Kyle Breisemeister led NR with six kills. Maupin finished with five kills and three blocks.