Dogwood volleyball looks like three-team race

The balance of power in the Dogwood District volleyball race has shifted slightly this fall, with William Campbell, rather than defending champion Altavista, winners of eight of the past 10 regular-season titles, joining Nelson County as favorites.

Generals fourth-year coach Brad Harper, who learned how to coach the sport by watching it as an athletic trainer at Campbell and Brookville, looks ready to join the ranks of Governors and Colonels’ veteran coaches Vicky Crawford and Debra Spencer, respectively, this fall.

“It’s tough when you’re still kind of the new kid on the block,” Harper said. “Debra and Vicky have been doing it for a while, but I think we have a team that can compete for a district title and more.”

He considers the Dogwood to be one of the best Group A districts in the state.

“If we can survive out of the Dogwood District, I think we do well at the (Region B) level because of the competition between the top half of the district,” Harper said. “There’s not going to be a night off where you’re going to roll through anybody. That prepares you for postseason play.”

This season, for the first year, there will be split regional and state playoffs for Division 1 and 2, as has been the case in football and, more recently, basketball. But that may not help district powers Altavista, William Campbell and Nelson.

“We probably are the three best teams and unfortunately we’re all in the same division,” Crawford said.

Harper and the Generals are happy to have Theresa Bream, who played at Liberty University in the early 1990s before coaching William Campbell to a state Final Four appearance in the mid-1990s, back on staff.

“We work well together,” Harper said of Bream. “We’ve developed a pretty good chemistry in a short time.”

This year’s lineup, which features eight seniors including outside hitter Michaela Holbrooks, a returning first-team all-district player, second-team setter Jordan Haga and Finland exchange student Sonja Pehkonen, helped lure Bream back into the sport and she’s bringing out their best.

The Generals will see just how much they’ve improved in their Dogwood District opener at Nelson on Sept. 14.

“Nelson’s very athletic,” Harper said. “They have a lot of people back. We do, too. That will set the tone early for who will take control in the district.”

Harper admits Nelson County, last year’s tournament champion, is the district’s most athletic team, with junior Ashley Wells and senior Erika Toliver returning as two of its most dominant hitters.

Despite graduating middle blockers Tashia Crawford and Tyra Stewart, the Governors have gotten out to a fast start, winning the Louisa County tournament by beating four Group AA schools and improving to 5-0 with a sweep of rival Amherst on Thursday night.

They also have setter Keona Loving, libero Brittany Crawford and Natalie Campbell, who played right side, back from last year.

“Our strength is really my libero, who’s about the best passer in the district,” coach Crawford said of Brittany (no relation). “She gets to every ball and makes my setter look very good. She gives great sets to my hitters and we’re able to run our offense very well.”

Altavista returns seven players, including three starters, from last year — senior setter Lindsay Mayberry, defensive specialist Samantha Farmer and Carly Rigler. They are joined by sophomore libero Ryan Hedgepeth, her freshman sister Sarah Hedgepeth, an outside hitter, and fellow freshman Sydney Morris.

Morris replaces Dogwood District player of the year Andra Brumfield, now at Sweet Briar, who combined with Kristen Gibson to account for 75 percent of the Colonels’ hitting and almost all of their passing and defense last fall.

She will be supported by outside and middle hitters Danielle Mattox and Laura Cox.

“I’m asking them to play in new roles and fill big shoes,” Spencer said, noting her two freshmen are “very athletic and hold a lot of potential, though they’re up and down.”

Second-year Appomattox coach Jake Reynolds believes the Raiders, with four returning starters, can compete for a top-four finish in the district after beating Chatham in the first round of the district tournament last year.

They look for senior outside hitter Lateesha Christian, setter Rachel Mayberry and right-side Whitney Harris to lead the way along with libero Savanna Griffin, a senior transfer from Georgia.

“We’ve been trying new hits and different attacks, running more from the back row,” Reynolds said. “We’re trying to get to quick sets, running a more aggressive middle.”

Gretna coach Jason Short returns his entire team from last year, with plenty to prove after finishing 0-19. The Hawks have already eclipsed last year’s record, beating GW-Danville twice and losing a close match to Halifax.

Senior middle hitter Georgia Davis is clearly Gretna’s go-to hitter.

“She’s greatly athletic and with playing experience from the past five years,  she brings leadership,” Short said. “If we all work together and come together as a group, should have a successful season.”