PREP VOLLEYBALL

C. HILL 3 MONACAN 0

The difference between the top-ranked boys volleyball team in the Central Region, Clover Hill, and the No.2 team, Monacan, was substantial in the second meeting of the year between the two Dominion District foes.

The difference between Clover Hill and any other member of the top 10 would have been substantial the way the Cavaliers played last night at home for a Senior Night crowd.
"We played the best we have all year," Cavaliers coach Steve Eliasek said after Clover Hill demolished Monacan 25-16, 25-19, 25-11.
The victory last night assured the Cavaliers (9-0, 18-0) of the district title (the ninth consecutive year they have won or shared the crown) and an automatic berth and top seed in the Central Region tournament.
"Everyone was ready to play. We hit them with everything, and they kind of folded," said Clover Hill's Graham Sheppard, a junior outside hitter.
The Chiefs (7-2, 15-3) were playing their third match in as many nights.
"Tired is no excuse. They overpowered and overmatched us," Monacan coach Bill Reeves said. "Their strength is their serving, and they didn't miss enough tonight."
The Cavaliers are aggressive servers even in the rally scoring format where errors result in points for the other team. Eight of Monacan's points in the second game came off missed Clover Hill serves, but that didn't deter the Cavaliers, who recorded 12 aces in the match.
"You have to go for points. You win some and lose some," said setter Scott Freer, who logged 25 assists, three aces and six blocks.
Freer, a senior, and Sheppard are particularly adept at high-tossed jump serves that require sharp timing.
"I try to touch the ceiling with the toss," Sheppard said.
He contributed four aces and 13 kills. Kinsey Hewitt added nine kills and two aces.
"It's tough on the other team when it can't develop an attack," Eliasek said. "It makes it easier for us because of the free balls generated off the serve."
Clover Hill has plenty of depth, too, and it showed last night.
"We played together, and everyone did what they had to do," Freer said. "It's been like this all year."
Said Eliasek, "I watched Varina [Group AAA state champions the past two years], and the sum was better than the parts. We are trying to achieve that kind of success."
The Chiefs have bounced back from two down years after winning the state championship in 1998. They were state runner-up in 1997. If they win a makeup match tonight, they will finish with a better regular-season record than either of those years.
Aaron Smith had eight kills and seven digs, and Dan McCabe added seven kills and six digs for Monacan.