Glass stuns JF early, wins first Seminole final in four

BEDFORD — To prepare for its first Seminole District tournament, E.C. Glass’s volleyball team scheduled a late-season match against its former Western Valley District nemesis, Patrick Henry.

The Group AAA tune-up, won by the Hilltoppers, helped them to play at a higher level in Thursday night’s championship match against Jefferson Forest at Liberty High School.

“We’re all so excited,” said Glass middle hitter Meg Kenny, who finished with a team-high 12 kills and five emphatic blocks. “We just wanted to prove to (the Cavaliers) that this is what we deserved. I think we made a statement. It was so fun.”

Glass (21-2) won the first game decisively before prevailing against Forest (19-3) in four, 25-4, 25-22, 17-25, 25-22.

“That was key, to show them that we weren’t here to just play, we were here to win,” Kenny said of the first game.

The Hilltoppers erased an 18-13 second-game deficit with a 9-0 run on setter Taylor Riley’s serve, capped by a stuff block by Kenny and ace by Riley before seizing a 2-0 game advantage on a kill by Kenny from the right side.

JF rallied behind a series of kills from Lindsey Smith and Jordan Hawkins to take the third game, with Smith spiking a winner off a Glass block on game point, before the Hilltoppers pulled out a tight fourth game with Kenny making two key stuff blocks down the stretch.

“They came back and they fought,” Kenny said. “They probably are the best team we’ve ever faced, all around. They remind me a lot of Patrick Henry. They have a lot of depth and are really hard working. It was a great game, but we really wanted it.”

JF coach Steve Mills, who shared coach of the year honors with Glass’ David Cardwell, said the Cavaliers never quite got in sync.

“We came in too hyped up and then we just never really got mentally into it,” he said. “I don’t think we ever really truly settled down. The scores look a lot better than it really was.

“They were the much better team tonight,” he added. “When we’d make a run, they’d just knock the wind out of our sails. They deserved it tonight.”

Glass won the first meeting in five games before Forest took the second in four, setting up the pivotal third meeting.

“They won the rubber match (and) they won pretty decisively,” Mills said.

“It’s their’s right now,” he added of the district crown. “We hope to see them again in a week,” in the Region III championship match.

JF, still seeded No. 1 in the region tourney, will host the winner of Monday’s match between Stuarts Draft and a team to be determined on Tuesday.

Glass will host Waynesboro in a first-round match on Monday.

Seminole District

Championship match

At Liberty High School

Scores: 25-4, 25-22, 17-25, 25-22

Highlights: ECG — Taylor Riley 25 assists, 11 digs, 7 aces, 3 blocks; Meg Kenny 12 kills, 8 digs, 5 blocks; Kim Amerell 7 kills, 12 digs; Shelby Davies 8 digs, 3 blocks, 3 kills; Rachel Mullen 12 digs, 4 kills, 3 aces.

Records: ECG 21-2, JF 19-3.

Consolation match

Rustburg 3, Liberty 2

At Liberty High School

Scores: 25-14, 25-22, 19-25, 23-25, 20-18

Highlights: R – Michelle Heath 23 kills, 21 digs, 6 aces; Meghan Mitchell 32 assists, 16 digs; Shannon Glass 11 kills, 17 digs; Katie Tyree 4 kills, 4 blocks, 4 digs. L – Hannah Martin 41 assists, 6 kills, 5 blocks, 7 digs, 2 aces; Ashlynn Buttram 14 kills, 6 blocks, 5 aces; Lydia Mansel 7 kills, 8 digs, 3 aces; Kasey Bond 13 kills, 23 digs, 2 blocks; Callie Glover 21 digs.

Records: Rustburg 13-10, Liberty 5-18.

All-Seminole District

First team: Meg Kenny (E.C. Glass), Kim Amerell (ECG), Taylor Riley (ECG), Blair Blanchette (ECG), Lindsey Smith (Jefferson Forest), Jordan Hawkins (JF), Megan Prothero (JF), Michelle Heath (Rustburg).

Second team: Nia Chiles (Amherst), Lindsey Sharman (Brookville), Mandi Metz (Brk), Emilee Dunton (Brk), Whitney Williams (Her), Erin McIntyre (JF), Callie Glover (Liberty), Katie Tyree (R).

Player of the year: Michelle Heath (R)

Co-coaches of the year: David Cardwell (ECG), Steve Mills (JF).