BE volleyball nets 18th straight state title
The Bishop England volleyball team won its 18th straight state championship on Saturday. But the Bishops did it the hard way.
The Bishops, the gold standard of high school volleyball in the United States, found a more than willing competitor that was able to put up a good fight. Powdersville was the competition and for two sets, it seemed as if the Bishops’ national streak of 17 straight state championships might be history.
Powdersville won the first two sets of the day. But by the time the match ended, the Bishops were on top, posting a 20-25, 27-29, 25-22, 25-17, 15-9 victory to claim its national best record of 18 straight titles and 28th overall.
Saturday’s match marked the first time the Bishops were pushed to five sets in the championship during their historic run. But Cindy Baggott’s team rebounded to claim yet another title.
CROSS COUNTRY
In the state cross country meet, BE junior Sam Boykin captured the individual championship to lead the Bishop boys to a second place finish in the Class AAA team standings.
Boykin covered the five-kilometer course at the Sandhill Research Center in 16 minutes and 36 seconds. He came close in the past two years with silver and bronze medals. But on Saturday, Boykin gained the gold.
Waccamaw claimed the team championship with 71 points. Bishop England was second with 97 points and May River claimed third with 139.
The Bishops will return all seven runners who competed in the state meet, so next year could be the Bishops’ year. Aidan Richter was 15th in 17:28 and Mark Richter was 16th in 17:29. Logan Desciak was finished 18th in 17:38 and Daniel Infante was 40th in 18:25.
Hanahan finished 17th in the Class AAA boys’ standings as Jack Dantzler finished 26th and Brett Kelly 28th.
Waccamaw won the girls’ Class AAA team title with 64. May River was second with 114 and Bluffton third with 129. The Bishop England girls claimed 12th with 346 points.
Kennedy Jordahl led the Bishop girls with a 23rd place finish of 21:44. Patricia George was 33rd in 22:09.
The Philip Simmons boys finished in 13th place in the Class AA standings. Freshman Noah Ward earned all-state honors with a fourth-place finish of 21:44. Thomas Schmeck finished in 69th.