Clover Hill’s boys capture state volleyball title

SLIDESHOW: Volleyball title

This one wasn't about strategy.

Having already split six meetings this season, the boys volleyball teams from Clover Hill and Cosby knew each other's strengths and weaknesses as well as opponents possibly could.

That meant there would be no surprises, no last-minute tactical adjustments, nothing but two talented squads going at each other full-bore with the ultimate prize on the line.

"I can't stress enough how much respect we have for those guys. They put up a heck of a fight, but once we got rolling, it was tough to stop us," said Zane Pinkleton, one of 11 Clover Hill seniors who closed out their high school careers in style by sweeping Cosby 25-23, 25-16, 25-18 to win the Group AAA state championship last night at the Siegel Center.

"This was about who wanted it more. It was just our night, our game, our season."

In an electric atmosphere normally reserved for VCU men's basketball games, Clover Hill (23-6) refused to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the moment. Instead, the Cavaliers put together their most complete performance of the season when it mattered most.

Matt White led the way for Clover Hill with 11 kills and five digs. Tony Song added 10 kills and five digs. Alden Negaard finished with eight kills.

Equally important was what the Cavaliers didn't do: hurt themselves with careless mistakes. Their flawless defense and passing never gave Cosby an opportunity to gain a foothold in the match.

"We're all disappointed that we didn't win, but all credit to Clover Hill," Cosby coach Frank Jenkins said. "They played outstanding defense. We weren't able to attack with the efficiency needed to beat a team playing that well. They were the better team tonight."

Clover Hill got a significant psychological boost from winning the first game, which was deadlocked at 21 before the Cavaliers ripped off four of the final six points. Song closed it out with a huge kill from the left wing, sending two Cosby defenders scrambling near the scorer's table in a futile attempt to retrieve the ball.

Despite 11 kills from Ben Morrison, eight from Cameron Vaile and seven from Stephen Cunningham, the Titans never got that close to winning another game.

"When they take the first game, it's tough to beat them," Cunningham said.

Cosby's climb grew steeper when back-to-back miscues late in the second game gave Clover Hill a 2-0 advantage. Even after trailing 14-10 in the third game, the Cavaliers simply refused to be denied.

Moments after Cosby's final shot landed wide, in the midst of Clover Hill's frenzied on-court celebration, the largest Cavalier 6-foot-6 middle Mark Smith was sent to the floor by a flying body block from teammate Alex Dolson.

Seconds later, Smith found himself at the bottom of a joyous pile of humanity, and he was in no hurry to get up.

"That was the best feeling of my life," he said.

Boys volleyball has been an officially sanctioned Virginia High School League sport for just 13 years. Clover Hill is the first school to win three state championships.

"It's unbelievable," Song said. "We had our eye on the prize since the beginning of the season. I can't really grasp it yet, but it will definitely hit me at some point."