JF, Glass set up rubber match in Seminole final

BEDFORD — After splitting with newcomer E.C. Glass and finishing tied for first place in the Seminole District regular season, Jefferson Forest’s volleyball team won a coin flip to determine the top seed for this week’s district and next week’s Region III tournaments.

Thursday at Liberty, the two teams, who swept their semifinal opponents on Tuesday, will have the opportunity to settle the score on the court in the district championship match.

Glass (20-2) and Rustburg (12-10) came out firing in the second semifinal, which started as a slugfest between the Hilltoppers’ Meg Kenny and Red Devils’ Michelle Heath.

Kenny used her powerful jump serve to set the tone and Heath responded with a flurry of kills in what looked like might be a back-and-forth battle.

But Kim Amerell, who had a match-high 16 kills, came up with some overpowering spikes of her own and Glass took control behind the floor leadership of setter Taylor Riley, winning 25-17, 25-20, 25-22.

Coach David Cardwell holds the Hilltoppers, whose only losses came against JF and Lord Botetourt, to higher expectations.

“We didn’t play up to par,” he said. “We played kind of sluggish. We’ve got to play a little better on Thursday (in the rematch with Forest).”

Rustburg coach Kristen Hardie hopes her team can peak for next week’s Region III tournament.

“It’s been an up-and-down year,” she said. “These girls come together when we really need it and they know next Monday, they’ll be fighting to extend their season.”

First, the Red Devils will face Liberty in Thursday’s 6 p.m. consolation match.

Liberty had three game points in its opener against JF, but the Cavaliers (19-2) won all three and prevailed, 28-26, on a short service run and ace by Randi Stanley before cruising in the second and third games, winning 25-12, 25-14.

“In the first game, we didn’t pass well and made our poor setter (Erin McIntyre) run all over the court,” Cavaliers coach Steve Mills said. “We were a little relaxed coming in, maybe too relaxed.”

Still, Liberty (5-15) wasn’t able to capitalize, losing for the third time this fall to their Bedford County rivals.

“We had our chances, (but) we just couldn’t put the ball down against them,” Liberty coach Bonita Roberts said. “They’re a good team, they play good defense and if you give them the opportunity, they’re going to put the ball down against you.”

Jordan Hawkins, playing a more prominent role on the front row with teammate Kelsey Stapleton sidelined by injury, took control in the second game, which she capped with a spike kill to the floor.

“Jordan had her most aggressive match in quite a while,” Mills said, noting she finished with 13 kills on only 16 attempts (81 percent), with only two errors. “That’s really good.”

Forest substituted freely in the third game, showcasing its depth. On match point, Madison Saunders set outside to Kara Mills, whose looping, cross-court hit landed inside the back line for the winner.

Stapleton, who sprained an ankle in a match against Brookville last Tuesday, won’t be available for Thursday’s championship against Glass, but could be back in time for next week’s regional playoffs.