James River’s field hockey team shares the top spot in the Dominion District. Usually, the Rapids are alone, but Cosby upended James River 2-1 at James River last Wednesday. Cosby, in its fourth year, was 0-7-1 against the Rapids. The tie with Cosby was James River’s only blemish in district play in the past four seasons. The Titans are coached by Rachel Mead, who built a Central Region title-winning program at James River before becoming the school’s activities director and handing the Rapids’ reins to Slade Gormus in 2000. Gormus directed the Rapids to the state Group AAA title in 2002, the only Central Region team to win the state championship.

James River 25 25 25 L.C. Bird 6 15 10 Highlights: Grace Jefferson (JR) 3 kills, 3 digs, 1 ace; Carol Pyszkowski (JR) 8 kills, 3 blocks; Cassie Stergar (JR) 7 kills, 4 digs, 1 block, 4 aces; Amber Martin (LCB) 9 digs; Chelsey Price (LCB) 7 digs, 1 kill, 3 assists, 1 ace; Katie Hall (LCB) 1 ace, 8 digs, 4 kills, 1 block Records: James River 9-0 Dominion, 15-2; L.C. Bird 0-9, 1-11

Conlan Cassidy’s eight tackles and three deflections, and Zac Blackwell’s five tackles and two sacks helped unranked James River beat No. 8 Manchester to 16 points as the Rapids (2-2 Dominion, 3-2) upset the Lancers (2-1, 3-2). James River’s Jessie Wells blocked a punt on the Manchester 26-yard-line to set up the Rapids’ third score, a 1-yard TD run by twin brother Josh.

The James River High School field hockey team will hold an alumni game Saturday as part of a daylong carnival to raise money for a former player. Carolyn Heuser Powell, a 2000 James River graduate and a mother of two, collapsed when her heart stopped July 5. She suffered neurological damage and has been undergoing extensive physical therapy. Meanwhile, friends set up a Facebook page and made plans for a fundraiser to help her family with medical bills.

Big Monday among the top boys volleyball teams in the Central Region produced a new No.1 team in the RVC/Times-Dispatch Top 10. Cosby, which is unbeaten in the Dominion District and has a seven-match winning streak, ascended to No.1 after beating then top-ranked Thomas Dale in four games. Atlee beat Clover Hill in four games, and Deep Run defeated James River in four in Monday’s other matches involving the former top six teams.

Cosby————————————- 0 2—2
James River————————————- 1 0—1
C: Powell, Johnson
JR: Jack
Saves: Siwick (C) 4; B. James (JR) 2; Herbert (JR) 0 Records: Cosby 8-1 Dominion, 11-1; James River 9-1, 9-2

James River————————————- 25 25 25
Manchester————————————- 14 14 14
Highlights: Grace Jefferson (JR) 5 kills, 1 ace, 3 digs; Cassie Stargar (JR) 14 kills, 4 blocks, 2 aces, 2 digs; Taralyn Barnett (JR) 5 kills, 1 block, 2 aces, 12 digs; Lauren Gholson (M) 11 assists, 7 digs; Kaitlynn Wickersham (M) 12 digs, 4 kills; Jenna Lowry (M) 5 kills, 2 blocks