Christiansburg volleyball keeps historic season alive with state tournament berth

CHRISTIANSBURG — After achieving the winningest regular season in program history, the Christiansburg High School volleyball team wasn't ready to take the hardwood a final time Thursday night.

So when No. 3 Lord Botetourt leveled the Region 3D semifinals at a set apiece and built an 18-12 lead in the third, the No. 2 Blue Demons responded, putting together a comeback effort to tie the frame at 19-all and then capitalize on the first set point to take a two-sets-to-one advantage.

They rode that momentum into the fourth, closing things out on their fourth match point to beat the Cavaliers 25-19, 20-25, 25-23, 25-3 and storm back into the Class 3 state tournament.

"Just the thought of losing, the thought of going home and this being our last game, I think really had an effect on us, and just knowing we could've walked away and never played again," senior middle Addison Reasor said. "So I think that really helped us carry that momentum and get that victory."

Reasor, a University of Virginia softball commit, tallied 14 kills and three blocks for Christiansburg (21-3), while Ela Shepherd collected a match-high 24 kills and four aces and Blair Self dished out 34 assists. Sophia Russell picked up 26 digs.

"I knew we could do it, but I knew (Lord Botetourt) was going to come and be tough with it too," Blue Demons first-year head coach Morgan Taylor said. "So I'm just proud of the girls, how they fought through even with a second-set loss. They did a great job."

The two squads entered the match having split their regular season meetings. Lord Botetourt (22-2) took a Sept. 9 matchup in Daleville in straight sets, while Christiansburg overcame a two-sets-to-none deficit to win the Oct. 21 contest on their home floor.

The Cavaliers were gunning for their first state tournament berth in five years, the last time being when they won their third straight state championship. Both of their losses this season have come at the hands of the Blue Demons in Christiansburg.

"Our girls have worked really hard this season, and Christiansburg's a great team, so if we're going to lose to anybody I'd say that's the team to lose to," Lord Botetourt first-year head coach Samantha Wilkins said. "I think that we still played very well, but honestly I don't know what it is about coming up here to Christiansburg."

Alicia Holmes led the Cavaliers with 16 kills and five blocks, while Skylar Moore amassed 41 assists and 20 digs. Bria Harvey added 29 digs, and Becca Huddleston chipped in nine kills, three blocks and five digs.

"They're definitely very competitive and I think they studied us a lot on film and everything like that," Taylor said. "And it's just fun to have a victory where we don't always have an undefeated game; that we can come through no matter what we're facing in a set."

Christiansburg now turns its attention to the Region 3D championship Tuesday and a date with No. 1 Hidden Valley (26-1), the defending Class 3 state champions. The Blue Demons played spoiler to an unbeaten season for the Titans, handing them their only loss of the year with a five-set victory Oct. 3.

Hidden Valley answered with a straight-sets victory in the River Ridge District tournament championship Oct. 30.

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