Hornets advance to finals

BILL MEADE / News Virginian
Published: November 1, 2007

HARRISONBURG - The Wilson Memorial steam engine had a little difficulty getting out of the station. Once it did, there was no stopping it.
After losing the first game of Wednesday's Shenandoah District semifinal and falling behind in the second game, the Green Hornets rallied back to defeat Luray 20-25, 25-22, 25-12, 25-7.
The win propelled Wilson into tonight's finals match against Page County who defeated Stonewall Jackson in four games.
"We wanted to beat them really bad after losing to them last week," said Wilson coach Kim Claytor. "Once we got through our deer in the headlights phase we were alright."
The Green Hornets fell behind in Game 1 and although they came within two points of tying the game, Luray ran off the final three points helped by a Danielle Montgomery service ace and a Katie Cubbage kill.
The Bulldogs momentum carried into Game 2 and they went ahead 17-13 before the regular season champions responded with a five-point run to take the lead.
From that point on, the Hornets became unstoppable. Kala Guy's emphatic kill into the stands closed out the second game to even the match.
The Hornets had little difficulty in the next two games surrendering just a total of 19 points.
"We turned it on," said junior Christine Coffield. "We calmed down and stopped getting nervous."
Coffield helped her team's cause with 21 set assists and Guy had a strong all around game with 19 kills, 14 digs and four blocks.
The Hornets improved to 16-5 overall.
"We told the girls to stay focused," Claytor said. "We made some adjustments and hit some seams on the court and came together."
Sophomore Noel Bartley contributed eight blocks at the net and 20 digs defensively while junior Taijha Jones contributed 29 digs.
If Wilson were to defeat Page County tonight, it would be the Green Hornets' second tournament championship in three years.
Regardless of tonight's outcome the Hornets will host a Region B first-round match Tuesday at the Hive against the Bull Run District's runner up.