Fort Survives Bruton Comeback To Win State Quarterfinal

WILLIAMSBURG – Fort Defiance survived a Bruton comeback Saturday afternoon to take a five-set victory in the quarterfinals of the Class 2 state volleyball tournament.

Fort won the first two sets 25-17, 25-16. In the second set, with the score tied at 10-10, Ella Shreckhise served five aces during a 7-0 spurt to five the Indians control of the second set.

Bruton stayed alive with a 25-20 win in the third set and then mounted a late comeback in the fourth set to even the match. The Indians held a five-point, 21-16, lead but Bruton closed the set with a 9-1 run to even the match with a 25-22 win in set four,

Fort trailed 6-1 early in the fifth set before scoring seven straight points to lead 8-6. The Indians maintained the lead and won the fifth set 15-9.

Maecy Frizzelle, the Shenandoah District and Region B Player of the Year, turned in monster performance with 36 kills and a .492 hitting percentage. Frizzelle had just five hitting errors in five sets. Shreckhise added nine kills and Caroline Hanger finished with five.

Hanger led the team with 23 sets and Riley Davis added 19 sets. Fort served a total of 14 aces, led by Shreckhise with eight. Shreckhise also led the team with 16 digs, followed by Frizzelle with 11 digs and Hanger with 10.       

Fort advances to the semifinal round Tuesday and will travel to Clarke County. Clarke held off Poquoson in three tightly contested sets Saturday, winning 28-26, 26-24, 25-22 to advance.

Clarke County just defeated Fort Defiance 3-1 to win the Region 2B title.