TROJANS STUMBLE: Hidden Valley ends Tunstall's season again

DRY FORK — They weren’t more physically gifted.

They weren’t particularly crisp or consistent.

They didn’t dazzle with their team speed or with individual ability.

But one thing the Titans of Hidden Valley did was outplay Tunstall in a 25-18, 25-17, 25-22 victory in the Region IV quarterfinals Tuesday night in Dry Fork, despite the home team’s burning desire to advance and gain a measure of retribution against the Titans for last year’s blowout regional semifinal defeat.

“I think we kept up with them,” said Tunstall senior Taylor Hite, who finished her season with 100 aces — good for a top 10 ranking in Virginia High School League history. “It was a fast-paced game, but I think we kept up with them and I think that we gave them a run for their money. Sort of.”

Tunstall (18-5) never led by more than a point until the third set, when — thanks in large part to the jump-serving Hite — the Trojans scored the first five points.

Already trailing two games to none, Tunstall broke open a 19-7 advantage in the third set and seemed to be cruising until Hidden Valley (20-4) closed the game and the Trojans’ season with an 18-3 run.

“We just fell apart at the end,” Tunstall senior Alyssa Dougherty said after recording seven points, five aces and five kills. “I really couldn’t tell you what happened.”

Hite provided the Trojans with nine points, six aces and three kills while senior Catelyn Stephens had 11 kills and 10 digs. Tunstall junior Morgan Distad chipped in with five points, four aces and 11 assists. Seniors Lauren Hearp and Jenna Rudder also played their final volleyball game for Tunstall.

Eva Delaney paced Hidden Valley with seven kills, seven digs and 25 assists while Sarah Church and Samantha Klostermann added nine and seven kills, respectively.

“Things weren’t going our way,” Hidden Valley coach Carla Poff said. “Tunstall was playing well and I think (my girls) just needed to settle down and play their game. Once we started getting serves in and getting our offense going, things turned around.”

“When we came back in the third game, I though we could do it,” Tunstall coach Jackie Hardy said, “but with a good team you can’t lose momentum. You’ve got to stay with it and we just didn’t do it.”

The primary culprits in Tunstall’s collapse appeared to be a lack of communication and composure.

Hidden Valley sophomore Rachel Thomas tied the third set at 22-22 with an ace that left Tunstall players looking at each other, bewildered. When the final ball bounced off a rafter and landed on the floor just inside the Tunstall side of the net, all the Trojans could do was turn red-faced and teary-eyed.

Another season squashed by Hidden Valley.