Battle-tested Lady Trojans down top-seeded Colonial Heights in five sets, earn berth to state tournament

New Kent’s Courtney Carter (15) elevates for a spike that set up match point as Colonial Heights’ defenders Avery Hurley (2) and Megan Rosenberg (8) failed to block the ball.

Robb Johnson photo

Playing in the Bay Rivers District has its perks, especially in volleyball where two state champions emerged from last year. For New Kent’s Lady Trojans, the tough competition prepared them and propelled them to a Nov. 2 victory and into the Group 3A state tournament.

New Kent upended top-seeded Colonial Heights 29-31, 25-16, 18-25, 25-19, 15-8 in a five-set thriller on the road, setting up a showdown with Bay Rivers District rival Grafton for the Group 3A Region A championship.

The first set saw both teams battle back-and-forth, so much that the teams had to go beyond the 25-point threshold and into a win-by-two scenario. The Lady Trojans had the first opportunity, as Lexi Powell’s kill provided them a 27-26 lead. But that was short-lived as Lady Colonial Kristina Henry answered with a spike and score of her own to tie the game again.

Both teams remained deadlocked in the frame before Alondra Sanjurjo’s kill provided a one-point advantage for Colonial Heights. The hosts ended the set, nailing a ball that hit the in-line and claiming it 31-29.

In the second set, New Kent remained poised and unrattled by dropping the opening heartbreaker. The visitors built up a four-point advantage (17-13) before back-to-back scores by Colonial Heights sliced the lead in half. But after an error by the Lady Colonials, Leah Rounds accounted for three of the next four points for New Kent, sparking a 7-1 run and capturing the set to tie the match up at one apiece.

New Kent held a 12-8 lead in the third frame, but the top-seeded Lady Colonials showed why they had only lost one game this year. Utilizing big hits and blocking at the net, the hosts put together a 17-6 run that resulted in the Lady Trojans trailing in the contest.

In the fourth stanza, New Kent stepped up to keep their opportunity to advance intact. A Fallon Greenawalt ace lifted the Lady Trojans to an eight-point lead (19-11). But another spike and score by Sanjurjo helped cut that deficit to six (20-14) with momentum riding on the side.

Both teams continued to exchange scores before New Kent reached set point at 24-19. The visitors were able to force Colonial Heights to hit the bard harder than anticipated, as they watched it sail out of bounds to hand the Lady Trojans the set and send the contest into a race to 15 and a chance for a state berth.

New Kent’s tough schedule down the regular season stretch proved to help them against Colonial Heights, as they jumped out to a 6-1 lead. The Lady Trojans held onto that advantage as they went up 13-7. Courtney Carter’s kill for the visitors doubled-up the Lady Colonials deficit as New Kent was set up for match point. After New Kent committed an error and Colonial Heights had possession, a serve by Lady Colonial Avery Hurley went into the net, ending the contest and clinching a regional title appearance for New Kent.

After the game, New Kent Lady Trojans Head Coach Stuart Burnett mentioned how the tough schedule prepared them for the adversity and moments they faced in the game.

“The good part after losing the first set was that we have been down for a good part in it and we fought back,” he said, mentioning the back-and-forth battle. “We fought back, and it was a mental thing.

“We felt confident throughout the game,” Burnett added, mentioning how his team didn’t want a similar collapse in last year’s tournament. “We had good serves and had good rotations after going up 6-1, and that pumped everyone up.”

New Kent takes on Bay Rivers District rival Grafton on Nov. 6 in the Group 3A Region A championship. Both teams have earned qualifying spots in the state tournament.