Gallery by Steph Redden
The Class A Region 3 semifinal matches Saturday night at the Charleston Catholic Sports Complex had no clear favorites.
When the dust cleared, both matches had been grueling five set marathons.
While Greenbrier West was going five sets to knock of James Monroe, Charleston Catholic rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat Summers County, 3-2.
“I am very excited and very stressed out. Making it to states again after the year we have had is just so exciting,” Greenbrier West head coach Cindy Nutter said.
The Cavaliers and the Mavericks traded haymakers in the first two sets with each team picking up lopsided wins.
Greenbrier West took the upper hand in the match by winning set three 25-18, but couldn’t’ close it out and James Monroe bounced back with a 25-21 win in set four.
Holding a 6-4 lead, senior Brooke Nutter stepped to the service line with a chance to build on the Cavaliers’ lead in the final set which was played to 15 points.
“She did an amazing job. She told me before the game, Mom, don’t spot serve me because my serves are a little off today,” coach Nutter said. “Then all of a sudden she comes out and has six (aces). You can’t ask for a better job than that.”
Nutter not only built on the lead, she served out the match in a 15-4 win for Greenbrier West.
“Between Covid, illness and injures, it has been one heckuva road this year. We were under quarantine two different times. It has been one thing after another,” coach Nutter said. “We had to really dig deep and they were able to pull through.”
Summers County was not quite as fortunate. After mowing through the postseason to that point, the Bobcats unfortunately had a rough night at the worst time.
“I just think we were out of sync today. I don’t think we were able to mesh well together today,” Summers County head coach Kelsie Lively said. “You have those days and it sucks it came in such an important time like this.”
Greenbrier West secured the regional crown with a 3-1 win over Charleston Catholic, 25-21, 25-15, 21-25, 25-21.
The Cavaliers and the Irish both advance to the state volleyball tournament that starts Friday.
