by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191
Mark Smith was so amped up after school Friday, he had to call his Deep Run friends who won the state boys volleyball title in 2008.
“They all said take it one point at a time.”
Ironically, that had been the message Clover Hill coach Georjean Lampley had been sending since the playoffs began.
It was all conformation, as Clover Hill confirmed a 3-0 victory over nemesis Cosby at VCU’s Siegel Center for the state Group AAA boys volleyball crown Friday night.
It is the Cavaliers’ third state title, the most in the 13-year history of the state tournament – Varina (1999, 2000) and Frank Cox (2003, ’06) have two.
A bushel of Cavalier greats were in the stands to witness Cavalier history.
Coach Steve Eliasek and Craig Cruse to name two great individuals, plus members of the previous state title winners from 2001 and 2005.
Add 2009 to the list, and Tony Song still can’t fathom he’s part of it.
“It’s unbelievable,” Song said. “I see [the trophy] but I can’t really grasp it. It’ll hit me. It’ll definitely hit me.”
Clover Hill hit Cosby with a 25-23 win in the first game that could have gone either way. That spelled doom for Cosby’s terrific hitter, Stephen Cunningham.
“I feel like if they take the first game, it’s hard to beat them,” Cunningham said.
It was definitely impossible Friday night.
Clover Hill was hitting on all cylinders of a V-12 power automobile, while the defense made Cosby scratch and claw for every point.
The Cavs held a 15-13 advantage in game two, but ended on a 10-3 run to win 25-16, sending shock waves through a plentiful Clover Hill crowd.
“I can’t stress enough how much respect we have for this team,” Zane Pinkleton said about up-the-street rival Cosby. “It was just our game, our season. The chemistry on the court, the tight-knit group.
“It’s amazing.”
Game three looked like it was Cosby’s.
Ben Morrison (11 kills) and Cunningham (seven kills) started to find room on the outside, joining Cameron Vaile (eight kills), who was already having a sensational match in the middle.
But in the blink of an eye, Clover Hill went on a 6-1 bolt capped by Alden Negaard, who had eight kills on the night.
It was all Song (10 kills, five digs), Matt White (11 kills, five digs), Bret Brooks (10 digs), Smith, Andy Hite (31 assists) and the senior-laden Cavaliers would need, scoring the final four points of the match to claim the hardware and bragging rights.
It was the seventh meeting of the season between the two talented teams, and Clover Hill won four of the matches.
“It’s like playing family,” Lampley said. “Keeping it all within Chesterfield. It’s kind of ironic that we’re just a couple of miles down the road from each other and end up at the state championship here.”
Clover Hill 25 25 25
Cosby 23 16 18
Records: Clover Hill (23-6); Cosby (21-6)
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