There might be a new pecking order among the Peninsula District boys volleyball squads after the season’s opening two weeks.
Heritage, ranked No. 5 in the preseason 757Teamz Top 15 after a state quarterfinal appearance, has dropped its first four matches. Previously unranked Denbigh, meanwhile, has reeled off five straight wins (all three-set sweeps) to open the season.
Kecoughtan also won its first four matches and swept Heritage 3-0 on Aug. 27. In that match, Gavin Holbrooks and Isaiah Vette combined for 15 kills, while Hunter Lively recorded 27 assists and four kills.
Menchville (3-0) handed Warwick (3-1) its only loss. In that 3-2 victory, the Monarchs’ Avion Massey scored 24 kills and Luke Woodard had 43 assists.
Denbigh faces both Warwick (Thursday) and Kecoughtan (Sept. 18) in the coming weeks.
Elsewhere, the top three remained intact. First Colonial lost its season opener to top-ranked Kellam, while No. 2 Kempsville knocked Princess Anne (1-2) out of the rankings with a 3-0 shutout (25-14, 25-12, 25-23). Will Laezon, Rylan Patterson and Trevor Strawbridge combined for 21 kills for the Chiefs, and Wyatt Strawbridge added 32 assists.
The Patriots returned to form after their loss. In a 3-0 win over Ocean Lakes, Bo Sawyer led FC with 17 kills, three blocks, five digs and a pair of aces. Zia Peterson followed with 12 kills and five digs. Nate Brown provided 25 assists, three blocks and two digs.
In the Southeastern District, Western Branch sprinted to a 6-0 start but recently dropped a dramatic 3-2 match (16-14 in the final set) to Grassfield in the final of the Richmond Tournament of Champions.
Team, record, previous
1. Kellam (3-0), 1
2. Kempsville (4-0), 2
3. First Colonial (3-1), 3
4. Granby (2-0), 4
5. Denbigh (5-0), NR
6. Kecoughtan (4-0), 6
7. Grassfield (4-0), 7
8. Menchville (3-0), 10
9. Western Branch (6-1), 12
10. Maury (1-0), 9
11. Warwick (3-1), 8
12. Great Bridge (3-0), 14
13. Indian River (1-0), 13
14. King’s Fork (2-0), NR
15. Cox (2-1), NR
Dropped out: Heritage, Hickory, Princess Anne.
