JAMES WOOD HOLDS OFF MILLBROOK TO WIN IN 5

November 2, 2011

By Robert Stocks

WINCHESTER- It wasn't hard to tell a regional berth was on the line in Tuesday night's Northwestern District semifinal volleyball match between James Wood and Millbrook.

Both teams made their share of mistakes, and through the first four sets it seemed like the winning team didn't win the set as much as the losing team lost it.

Chalk that up to nerves, but James Wood kept its composure just enough to keep its perfect home district record intact with a gutsy effort in the fifth and deciding set.

The Colonels overcame eight ties in the fifth set, making enough clutch points late to break a 10-10 tie and close out the match with five-straight points for a 3-2 (22-25, 25-17, 25-19, 18-25, 15-10) victory over Millbrook.

The Colonels (15-6) will now host regular-season district champ Sherando (17-4), a 3-0 winner over Handley in Tuesday's other semifinal match, in the district tournament championship match at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

James Wood kept its home unbeaten streak going despite not having freshman outside hitter Katie Houser, who had a team-high 244 kills this season before a broken finger ended her season.

"This has been our goal all season," said James Wood senior Eleanor Kent, who had 10 kills, five blocks and two aces. "I think we definitely proved to everyone that even though Katie's out we're one team with one goal and we can achieve that."

Although James Wood was shorthanded, Colonels coach Jill Lester said she couldn't have been more proud of how her team responded.

"Not to sound cliché but it was a true team effort," Lester said. "Every kid on this team played and every kid on this team contributed to this win tonight for our team."

And the Colonels' team effort came through late in the fifth set. With the scored tied 10-all, three different Wood players stepped up with clutch points to put all the pressure on the Pioneers (14-6).

Kent's tip found an opening on the left side of the Pioneers' court, dropping just inside the line to put the Colonels ahead 11-10.

After an errant hit by Millbrook, Erica Hepner followed with an ace that Millbrook sophomore Kendall Brown couldn't handle to put Wood ahead 13-10.

On the next point, Millbrook junior middle Brittany Whitacre's tip went into the net to give Wood match point.

With Hepner still at the line, Kent blocked Millbrook's Blake Parkes (team-high 12 kills) to end it.

"It definitely helps once you put that ball where no one is," Kent said. "It goes to the floor and you can just take the momentum back."

Momentum swung throughout the match and mistakes loomed large in each set.

After dropping the first set, the Colonels won the next two before Millbrook capitalized on several errors by James Wood to force the fifth set.

James Wood made six early errors that helped Millbrook jump out to a commanding 13-3 advantage in the fourth set. Millbrook led by as many as 12, and James Wood never cut the deficit to less than five.

In set three, the score was knotted 15-15 until Millbrook made five errors down the stretch to help the Colonels take the set 25-19. The Pioneers struggled in the second set, making 15 errors or violations that led to points in dropping the set 25-17.

"I definitely think we got under a lot of nerves and fell under the pressure," said Whitacre, who had nine kills and six blocks. "That caused us to get a little bit behind and then we just dug ourselves into a hole. We had some miscommunication [in the fifth set] and getting so wound up to get the point that we psyched ourselves out."

Pioneers coach Eric Heflin said his team made too many errors against a quality team like the Colonels.

"They're a good team, and we just made more mistakes than they did," Heflin said. "But I'm proud of what the team has accomplished this year. The seniors will truly be missed. They're a great group, and I can't say enough about them."

The Colonels now get an opportunity to face a Sherando team it split with during the regular season in Thursday's final. Both teams will advance to regionals regardless of Thursday night's outcome.

"I think Thursday we'll just definitely go out there and have fun and try to win districts," said James Wood junior outside hitter Tarah Wampler, who led the Colonels with 11 kills and four aces. "But we're definitely looking forward to regionals."

James Wood junior Emilee Payne had a team-high 28 assists, and junior libero Kelby Jackson led the Colonels with 21 digs.

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