PETERSBURG — Reaching the final point was a battle in itself.
With an incredible show of resiliency, the Grassfield boys volleyball squad, facing a Cosby team that had defeated the Grizzlies for the Region A championship, overcame a seven-minute delay toward the end of the third and final set, as well as five match points to capture its first Class 6 championship Saturday.
Grassfield swept to the championship with a 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 31-29) victory at Virginia State University’s Multi-Purpose Center.
The Grizzlies had already fought to win the first two sets. Facing its first match point at 24-23 in the third set, Cosby pulled together to score two points and a chance to win the set. But a net violation by Cosby tied the score at 25. The Titans scored again, and then Grassfield sophomore Isaiah Agustin pushed a shot over the net to tie the score at 26.
Or did he?
What followed was a seven-minute delay to discuss the call, and then a possible delay of game. While the officials and coaches discussed the matter, the Grassfield players, possibly two points away from a state title, were forced to take an unexpected and unwelcome break.
Asked about any conversations among the players during the lapse in play, senior Andrew Burke said, “We said that we just have to go out and win the game. And everybody played their part.”
Owen Griffiths of Grassfield celebrates after a play in the boys volleyball Class 6 state final against Cosby at the VSU Multi-Purpose Center in Petersburg, Va., on Nov. 22, 2025. (Peter Casey / For The Virginian-Pilot)
The teams would continue to go back and forth with ties at 27, 28 and 29. Eventually, Burke, who finished with 15 kills and five digs, would land the penultimate kill, and on the next exchange, Isaiah Agustin nailed a cross-court kill to cement the victory for Grassfield.
Burke has been a strong force for the Grizzlies (21-7) all season.
“I am at the loss for words,” said Burke, voice raspy from celebration. “I love this team so much. This is freaking great.”
“He is absolutely amazing to watch,” coach Paul Emler said. “In the 757, I haven’t seen an outside hitter I’d rather have on my team.”
But it was Agustin, younger brother of standout Caedan (15 assists), who surprised the Grizzlies this season. Originally slated to be the setter, Isaiah was forced into an outside-hitter role due to graduations from last year’s team.
“I usually don’t play outside,” said Agustin, who finished with seven kills and 17 digs Saturday. “But we lost some seniors, and someone had to step up.” At 5-foot-9, he doesn‘t fit the mold of net-minder in a sport that regularly features players well over 6 feet.
A kill from Cosby’s Lennox Riffe gave the Titans (20-8) a 19-18 lead in the opening set. But a pair of kills from Burke helped the Grizzlies stay alive and tie the score at 24, before they closed out the set with the help of unforced Cosby errors.
Grassfield built a 19-14 lead in the second set, thanks to a pair of kills from Burke and an Isaiah Agustin block. Two unforced errors by Burke helped Cosby close the lead to 21-20, but several errors by the Titans allowed Grassfield to win 26-24.
Sensing victory, the Grizzlies built a 19-15 lead in the third set, but allowed a 4-0 run by Cosby to tie the score at 19. In all, the score would tie eight more times before Grassfield could close out the match.
Josh Holcomb contributed 15 assists to the winning effort, while Marcus Berry added six kills.
Andrew Burke of Grassfield hits the ball against Alexander Cochrane Angel Santos Ramos of Cosby in the boys volleyball Class 6 state final at the VSU Multi-Purpose Center in Petersburg, Va., on Nov. 22, 2025. (Peter Casey / For The Virginian-Pilot)
