High school volleyball notes: It’s Titans’ turn again at No.1

It's Titans' turn again at No.1

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's victory was its first over the Knights. Ben Morrison and Stephen Cunningham contributed 13 kills each, and Cameron Vaile added 10.

"All the tough matches we have had with Atlee, Clover Hill and James River have definitely helped with our team's development," Titans coach Frank Jenkins said. "I believe that any of this week's top seven teams could beat each other on any given night."

Cosby, which was No.1 for a week earlier in the season, plays Clover Hill for the third time tonight. The Cavaliers won in the final of the Virginia Volleyball Showcase. Cosby won the first district meeting.

Each district will send two representatives to the Central Region tournament. Cosby, Clover Hill and James River are chasing the automatic bid that goes to the district champion.

"For us, there will be a great team from our district that will not make it to the regional tournament," Jenkins said. "We are just focusing on working hard every day to improve and trying to stay focused one match at a time."

Golf and volleyball

James River has lost to Cosby and Clover Hill, but the Rapids beat Thomas Dale in three games and defeated Highland Springs in the Virginia Volleyball Showcase.

James River had leads in the third and fourth games of its loss to Deep Run on Monday, but the Wildcats rallied to win both, including scoring 12 consecutive points in the fourth game.

Rapids' outside hitter Drew McLean also plays on the golf team. He contributed to James River's first-round score in the Central Region tournament, then played volleyball against Deep Run. He helped the Rapids advance to the state golf tournament Oct. 19-20 as the region runner-up Tuesday.

The Group AAA golf tournament, where James River is the defending champion, will be played at Waterfront CC near Smith Mountain Lake. McLean will play golf the morning of Oct. 19 and come home to play a volleyball match against Thomas Dale that night. He heads back to the golf tournament for the final round Oct. 20 and returns home for the Rapids' volleyball encounter with Cosby that night.

Wide open region

Highland Springs made the most significant jump in the rankings, moving from No.7 to No.2. The Springers defeated Deep Run in a five-game match Sept. 28 and have won 10 consecutive matches since a five-game loss to Princess Anne in the Showcase.

The Springers hold the top spot in the Capital District after beating Lee-Davis in three games (all close) Tuesday. Highland Springs still has to play Atlee twice. The first meeting is Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Atlee, which owns victories over Cosby and Clover Hill, gets its rematch with Lee-Davis tonight. The Confederates handed Atlee its first defeat Sept. 15. The Raiders also have lost to Deep Run, which looks to be the clear leader in the Colonial District.

Thomas Dale, which had to go five games to beat Central District foe Colonial Heights, bounced back from its loss to Cosby with a sweep of another district contender, Matoaca, on Tuesday. The Knights are unbeaten in the district and figure to remain that way.

"There is no clear-cut favorite from what I have seen," Cosby's Jenkins said. "Highland Springs, Deep Run, Atlee, Clover Hill, James River, Thomas Dale and Cosby have a legitimate shot to end up as the regional champion." -- Arthur Utley