Warriors of Rock - Progress Index - 11-10-2010
Warriors of Rock
BY COURT WILLS (SPORTS WRITER)
The Progress Index
Published: November 10, 2010
(patrick kane/staff photo) Matoaca's Dell Ramsey (2) hits against James River's Darren Kilby (7) and Simon Wilson (13) during the Central Region game Tuesday night at Hanover.
MECHANICSVILLE - When Adam Griffin started at Matoaca to take over the boys volleyball team as coach, he didn't know what he was going to find. Over the past five years, Griffin found greatness.
Players of all different statutes and talents that just wanted to try and have fun fell into a game that they couldn't get enough of. Practices were not just practices, bus rides weren't bus rides and teammates were not just teammates. Together the Matoaca boys volleyball team became a family.
A family that on its final night of the season, exceeded its highest expectations, leaving a program that will have the highest standards to overcome.
Against a fierce and scrappy team - James River - Matoaca fell 3-2 (25-12, 25-21, 16-25, 23-25, 15-17) in the semifinals of the Central Region tournament Tuesday at Hanover High School.
"They battled and played their hearts out. They gave everything that they could do," Griffin said. "It is the hardest thing to lose when you were up 2-0 but we didn't stop fighting. My seniors played the best game of their career tonight. I love these guys." In front of a huge crowd with a ton of fan support for the Rapids and Warriors, the match got off with a bang.
For the first two games, Matoaca could not miss a beat with a strong frontline of Ryan Clapman and Matt Harper. The Warriors took away the attack game of the Rapids, including sole senior Darren Kilby. Along with Kilby, outside hitter Sam Albus were getting frustrated at the net hitting balls out when a set was made up at the net. Or in the other case, would not be able to get past the durable blocking of Clapman, Harper, Brandon Branch and Dell Ramsey. "I think when we came out and went up 2-0 they were kind of surprised that we matched up so well against them. The intensity was definitely on our side right there," Griffin said. Also in those first two games, Matoaca stayed on course and did not getting complacent. Similar to the previous night's performance against Douglas Freeman, the home team was aggressive in anticipating the block and getting consistent setting by senior Ethan Bickford.
"I give Matoaca a ton of credit because I told my guys before the match what they're tendencies were and I think in those two games, they were thinking too much. My team is not a thinking team, they are a team that just wants to go out and play," said first-year James River coach Terry Ford. "They played their hearts out." Before this season, the Rapids had graduated nine seniors from last year's team along with a brand new coach in Ford. That left the visitors with only one senior player in Kilby, who had both club and RVC experience. "Darren Kilby is an awesome player in my mind. It's always good to have that one player that when the chips are down that they can make something happen and Darren is that player," Ford said. "He played at an extremely high level tonight. I think over the season he has been a vocal leader."
Over the next two games, Kilby took control of James River pulling his troops together. The blocking, outside hitting and court sense that had been missing was suddenly getting hotter and more explosive.
In a matter of 20 minutes, the momentum had shifted leaving the Warriors scrambling. Also Matoaca started missing serves at key times that allowed James River to maintain edge.
"They made some great adjustments. Their No.7 [Kilby] played like an animal. Like us they were playing their hearts out," Griffin said. "But we came back with ours and came up short leaving us heartbroken." But with the match tied at 2-2, the game was still within reach for both teams. It was all about who was going to win that momentum and intensity battle.
For both programs it would be the first time the boys volleyball could reach the Group AAA tournament with a win. James River won that battle as the visitors fought through seven ties and a hard-nosed front row to overcome for the victory. The Rapids had made history with their first berth to the Group AAA tournament on Saturday at the VCU Verizon Wireless Arena. James River will play the winner of the Deep Run and Cosby match on Thursday at Hanover High School at 7:30 p.m.
Despite the loss, Griffin gathered his players and made one thing known, "I love you guys and I couldn't have asked for more."
"All the credit goes to these guys, they made everyone believe around them. I can't ask for a better group of guys," Griffin said. "All of these guys have meant so much to this program. I love them all."
- Court Wills can be reached at cwills@progress-index.com