WILLIAMSBURG — The Grafton girls’ volleyball squad has enjoyed a mostly perfect season in 2025. Heading into Tuesday’s Class 4 Region A championship game against Bay Rivers rival Jamestown, the Clippers had scored 22 consecutive victories, while winning 66 of 67 sets in those matches.
The one blemish on Grafton’s set record came at the hands of Jamestown on Oct. 6, but the Clippers fended off numerous Jamestown challenges to win theregion title with another 3-0 sweep, winning 25-12, 25-19, 25-16.
Senior Kenzie Smith knocked down 21 kills, showing her leaping and spiking prowess from all spots on the front line.
“In the first half of the season, she stayed in the middle,” said coach David Keeter, who has guided Grafton to eight consecutive state finals. “In the second half, we have been setting her up all over the line because teams were sending two and three players to the middle to counter.”
For her part, Smith has become well established in her team leader role.
“It’s a lot of pressure, but my teammates have my back,” said Smith.
Freshman Alivia Brackens has become a key player and finished with 12 digs in a strong defensive effort Tuesday.
“We fight really hard,” Brackens said. “But we’re still hungry.”
Brackens’ emergence has been a surprise, although her older sister Ana has been a key cog for two years. “She was raw when we got her, but athletic. She has good genes,” added Keeter of Ana Brackens, who added nine kills and four blocks.
Senior Olivia de la Cruz added five kills along with 20 assists, while Allyson Burke scooped up 14 digs.
Heritage wins boys title
In the opening match, Heritage lost the initial set but captured the next three to topple Gloucester 26-28, 25-17, 25-22, 25-23 and win the Class 4 East Sectional title.
Marcus Dozier led the Hurricanes with 20 kills and 13 digs, while Isaac Ward-Payton nailed 24 kills. Nazir Bradshaw scored 22 digs and added three aces, and Tyrell Shelton led the Canes with 42 assists.
Shelton’s emergence has been the biggest surprise of the season, according to coach Nehemiah Carter.
Shelton “is new and has never played setter before this season and was actually a middle,” Carter said. “It took all of us committing to the process of trusting what this new system could be.”
Heritage (12-11) has been the area’s most unpredictable team, starting the season by losing ten of its first 11 matches before winning 11 of the next 12.
