Volleyball tourney previews postseason potential

State title contenders including Ashley Hall, Lexington, Bishop England and Hillcrest will compete in the Wando Invitational Friday and Saturday at Wando.

The 16-team pool-play tournament begins at 5 p.m. Friday, with matches scheduled at 45 minute intervals. Saturday play begins at 8:30 a.m. and championship matches are slated for 1:30 p.m.

-------------------

Top athletes of the week

Layla Asghari

Dutch Fork tennis

With a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles, led the Silver Foxes to victory against White Knoll on Oct. 7

Brooke Grice

Heathwood Hall cross country

Led Highlanders to win at Wilson Hall Invitational with 20 minute, 28 second finish - coming in second place- on Oct. 7

Walker Layne

Chapin swimming

Senior won gold medals in the 100-yard backstroke, with a time of 52.56 seconds, and the 100 butterfly (52.13) at the Class 3A championships on Oct. 10

Laura Grace Swindler

Lexington volleyball

Made five digs, seven aces and 34 assists as the Wildcats defeated Dutch Fork on Oct. 13

GOLF

Hammond, Heathwood top contenders for SCISA title

At Gaston's Hidden Valley Golf Club today, Hammond and Heathwood Hall are the favorites to win the SCISA girls state championship.

Heathwood is led by senior Lauren Glazer and sophomore Renae Gray, and is coached by Lynn Humphrey. Fred Wadsworth is the coach at Hammond.

The tournament, hosted by Heathwood Hall, begins at 1 p.m.

3A teams look to make state championship cut

The field for the Class 3A state championship will be determined next week in the Upper and Lower State qualifiers.

The Upper State tournament, hosted by A.C. Flora, starts at 9:30 a.m. at Northwoods Golf Club in Columbia on Monday. Brookland-Cayce hosts the Lower State tournament at Camden Country Club, with an 8:30 start on Tuesday.

To qualify for the Oct. 26 statetournament, golfers must score 90 or lower. A team must have five players qualify to advance as a team.

TENNIS

Dutch Fork, Irmo square off in Region 5 showdown

In what is sure to be another close decision, Dutch Fork and Irmo battle for the Region 5 championship on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Dutch Fork handed the Yellow Jackets their only region loss on Sept. 24. Irmo's Mary Chris Satterthwaite defeated Mareli Sanchez at No. 1 singles to give the Yellow Jackets an advantage, but the Silver Foxes won 4-3 by sweeping the doubles matches.

Dutch Fork, undefeated in the region, hosts the rematch.

Chapin's Rodgers is USTA's Coach of the Year

In his 33rd year as a high school tennis coach, Chapin's John Rodgers has been named Coach of the Year by the S.C. chapter of the U.S. Tennis Association.

"I know that it is a very nice award to receive," Rodgers said. With the award under his belt, the coach is focused on longevity.

"I just want to be back next year," he said.

The Eagles would be glad to have him. Rodgers has amassed 356 wins in 33 years with the Eagles' boys team. Twelve years ago, he took over the Chapin girls program, and this year notched his 100th win with that team.

Rodgers will be honored at a banquet during the the USTA S.C. annual meeting at Myrtle Beach in December.

- SCISA postseason starts Monday

The whirlwind SCISA playoffs begin Oct. 19. Brackets are scheduled to be released today.

The state championship matches will be held Oct. 24 at Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter.

CROSS COUNTRY

Bishop England a favorite at Lowcountry Invitational

James Island hosts the Lowcountry Invitational on Saturday at Johns Island's Mullet Hall, and the Class 2A No. 2 Battling Bishops of Daniel Island are the top-ranked team in the boys' field.

With a trio of Nathan Leach and seniors Baxley Crosby and Sid Houting in the first three places, the Bishops won the Bravo division at the Sept. 26 Citadel Invitational.

Summerville's girls team, led by Sydney Hazel and Audrey Conners, also is expected to have a strong showing. Hazel ran her season-best time of 19 minutes, 16.77 seconds in leading the Green Wave to third in the Citadel Invitational.