VHSL Boys Championship
The historic season for the pandemic year has come to an end with champions crowned in all 9 regions for VHSL Classes, 6 for girls and 3 for boys. Several teams were in line for repeats including all three defending…
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Continue ReadingThe historic season for the pandemic year has come to an end with champions crowned in all 9 regions for VHSL Classes, 6 for girls and 3 for boys. Several teams were in line for repeats including all three defending champions from the 2019 Boys championships. All three match-up are rematches from previous state finals. The Class 4 match-up of the defending champions Patrick Henry versus Maggie Walker Dragons is a rematch from last season’s state title game. Deep Run and Glen Allen have their third consecutive finals date. James River Midlothian takes on Thomas Dale who they battled for the 2018 title. All the teams are from the Central region who has dominated boy’s volleyball since 2014 when Frank Cox won the championship.
Patrick Henry Ashland has created a dynasty in Class 4 (which includes Class 4 and all levels below since Boy’s volleyball is a much smaller population of schools) over the past 5 years. Coach Michael Townsend stepped down after last season, having won four consecutive championships. Coach Bolyard, who lost to Patrick Henry last season as the Head Coach for Maggie Walker, left the Dragons to take over the Patriots. Connor Dixon took over the Dragons, with Dragon alum and former Freeman Head Coach David Calvert assisting, had a great season in his rookie campaign as head coach. The Dragons are a very scrappy team with good ball control and solid consistency and balance, but lacks a lot of elite firepower. Patrick Henry started off hot and ran off a 12-3 lead and stayed in control for the rest of the set and took set one 25-11 for a 1-0 lead. The Dragons regrouped nicely after the sluggish start and played the relentless defense that they are known for and battled throughout the set. The Patriots had a run to extend their lead in set two to 18-13 before the Dragons caught fire with a 7-1 run to take a late game lead 20-19. The teams exchanged points throughout until the Patriots finally got an advantage at 30-29 and a Dragon hitting error closed the set for the Patriots and a two sets to none lead. Maggie Walker battled more in the third, taking an 11-9 lead in the third. Patrick Henry put together a string of kills to re-establish themselves and finished out the third set for their fifth consecutive championship. The challenge for six in a row will be more difficult as perennial boys powerhouse Atlee will joining Class 4 next year and Maggie Walker will have a strong returning group. There is also a lot of young talent at the beach which could make for a potential shift in power in Class 4 in the Fall.
Deep Run came out hungry in the Class 5 final. After losing in four sets to Glen Allen in the Regional finals, the Wildcats returned on a mission. To win their first championship, Glen Allen would have to be great to win their first championship and to end the Deep Run stretch of consecutive wins. This would not be the day. Senior Setter Wade Every said, “This week, we came in like underdogs.” The Wildcats jumped out early, taking a 7-0 lead in the first, but the Jaguars battled back to close it to 15-12. The Wildcats re-centered and took control to close out the set on a 7-2 run to take the first set. In set two, they jumped out with another 7 point led to a 14-7 advantage. They went on another game closing run of 8-3
to close out the set on a kill from Junior Outside Hitter Ian Wagenhauser to seal the deal. The 6’6 Outside is a dominant force offensively and a high level college prospect. He has ideal size for high level volleyball and as he adds strength and gets more experience, can develop into elite level talent. The third set was a good battle before the Wildcats took a 17-16 lead and got some separation to close out their fifth championship. Wagenhauser finished with 12 kills, 8 digs and 3 aces. Tyler Gray added 8 kills and 8 digs and Hunter Baldwin added 6 kills for the Wildcats. Senior Setter Every had 34 assists. The Wildcats limited serving errors to keep pressure on the Jags. For Glen Allen, Outside Hitters Brooks Cowart and Sam Kinter each had eight kills for Glen Allen. The Jags and Wildcats will be back and loaded for the Fall, along with Frank Cox who will have most of their dominant players back for another season. The Jags finish the season 13-3, all three losses to Deep Run. The Wildcats finish 15-1 with their lone set back being the Jags.
The path to the Class 6 Championship flows through the James River Rapids. They have been the dominant team in the last four of the last five championships . This year culminated in a perfect season for the Rapids with a perfect 15-0 record. This is a threepeat for the Rapids. Thomas Dale made them earn every point of it. The
Knights came to play and offered a solid match-up against the powerful James River line-up. Dale had a bit of jitters in the first set before settling in and tying the set at 13. Dale even had a 3 point lead before the Rapids came back and tied it and assumed control to close our a tight first set 28-26. Sets two and three were battles as well but the Rapids never lost control and closed out the matches with a balanced effort from their main core of players including Cole Grubbs, Drew Barfield and Connor Pinney. Senior Middle Hitter Grubbs had 7 kills for the Rapids. Drew Barfield was dominant at the net and added a team-high 9 kills. Setter Connor Pinney dished 29 assists in the championship effort. The Knights were led by Deklan Wingo’s match high 14 kills and high level college prospect Isaiah Oriente added 5 kills.
This season was difficult for so many people. Many see it as a blessing that we were able to return to school in some fashion and that sports served as a much needed outlet for so many of us. While only 9 champions were crowned or this 2020-21 volleyball season, we all walk away winners for having had the opportunity to play the game we love so much.