Gallery by Heather Belcher
Junior outside hitter Salia Harris has been a beast at the net for the Woodrow Wilson volleyball team all season.
Monday night in the opening round of the Class AAA Region 3, Section 2 volleyball tournament the beast was hungry and she delivered.
Recording 33 kills on the night, Harris was a key factor in wins over Oak Hill and Greenbrier East to move the Flying Eagles into the sectional championship game Wednesday night.
“She is definitely an outlet,” Woodrow Wilson head coach Bre Rhodes said about her junior hitter. “She has a good swing. When we can get the ball to her, we know it is going to be a point.”
The Flying Eagles beat the Red Devils three straight (25-7, 25-14, 25-12) to open the night, while the Spartans were besting Princeton 3-1 (25-20, 15-25, 25-13, 25-19).
The nightcap between the longtime rivals was not do-or-die in the double elimination format. However, the match carried heavy value. Not only did the winner advance to the sectional championship match, the winner was also guaranteed a spot in the Region 3 tournament Saturday morning.
“This was definitely big,” Rhodes said after the win over East. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy whether we got Princeton or East, but it was good to win it in three (sets) for sure.”
While East was in every set, Beckley seemed to have control all night.
“There were a lot of free balls going over and things like that. Against a good team like (Beckley), you just can’t do that,” Greenbrier East head coach Matt Sauvage said. “When we executed, we won most of the points. There were just way to many tips, pushes and free balls going over from our side of the net.”
Woodrow broke open a 7-7 tie with a 5-0 spurt which included a pair of kills from Harris. The Spartans moved back within two points aided by kills from Molly Pack and Gracie Gumm, but could get no closer.
A kill from Harris and three straight errors by East pushed the led back out to six in a 25-19 loss.
Beckley took much of the drama out of the second set with a 12-1 run that included a pair of kills and an ace from Alanna Penn. Greenbrier East trailed by as many as 13 points before battling back within six points at the end.
The strong finish in set two appeared to carry over for the Spartans who took a 7-3 lead to start the third set.
Unfortunately for the visitors, they could not sustain the momentum.
Beckley battled back and with the score tied at 18-18, the Flying Eagles took control again with another 5-0 burst.
A kill from Lexi Coleman was followed by a crucial net violation on East. Penn then dropped a bomb from the back row and backed it with an ace. Harris capped the spurt with her 31st kill of the night for a 23-18 advantage.
The final two Beckley points came on swings from Harris.
“When you free ball and give her a free transition swing, it is tough,” Sauvage said about Harris. “She is one of the better hitters in the state. There is a reason for that and you saw it tonight. She is a tough player.”
Harris’ big night was keyed by the play of the back row for starters who moved the ball forward for setter Abby Dillon.
Emily Gallaher had 34 receptions on the night along with 28 digs, while Abby Mower had 14 digs and 23 receptions to lead the way.
“They definitely held their own tonight. When the block is not there, they have to to be there,” Rhodes said. “All of them did their job back there. The block on the front row did their part as well.”
Dillon ended the night with 67 assists, 20 digs and tossed in a couple of kills for good measure.
“She always plays really well,” Rhodes said about her all-state setter. “She controls the ball and knows when to put the ball in certain places. That helps a lot.”
Greenbrier East and Princeton will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. in an elimination match. The winner will advance to the regional round and will play Beckley for the sectional title immediately following the opening match.
Princeton beat Oak Hill in Monday’s elimination match to advance to Wednesday’s action.
“Hopefully we can take care of business Wednesday in the first match and get another shot at it,” Sauvage said. “All the focus is on Princeton right now. That is all that matters. If we don’t win that one, it won’t matter.”
