Trojans Volleyball Invitational to be held Saturday

By Karl Lyles - kyles@heraldonline.com

The fourth annual Northwestern Trojan Volleyball Invitational is Saturday and features varsity teams from Rock Hill High, South Pointe, York, Fort Mill, Indian Land, North Central, Brookland-Cayce, Hartsville, Keenan and South Point (N.C.).

Pool play begins at 8:15 a.m. followed by the 2:15 p.m. quarterfinals for Gold and Silver brackets. The semifinals are set for 3:15 p.m., and the championship match follows immediately afterward. Trophies and medals will be awarded to the first-place team, and a trophy will be awarded to the second-place team in both brackets.

General admission for a full-day pass is $8 per person (children 10 years of age and younger are free). After 2 p.m., admission for playoffs will be $5.

The Trojan Club concession stand will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and tournament T-shirts will be available for $10.

CROSS COUNTRY � Fort Mill sophomore Mark Blackmon won his fourth invitational title Saturday at the Furman Invitational in Greenville. He covered the 5-kilometer course in 16:03. Fort Mill's Meredith Kilburn finished sixth in the Girls Purple division with a time of 20:21. The Fort Mill duo has posted the fastest boys' and girls' 5K times in the state this season.

The Fort Mill girls have climbed to No. 3 among Class AAAA schools. The boys' poll is in a constant state of flux. Dorman has moved into the top spot and Fort Mill has dropped to No. 5. Northwestern is 11th in both polls.

Girls team Class AAAA rankings: 1. Wando; 2. Mauldin; 3. Fort Mill; 4. Dorman; 5. Dutch Ford; 6. Stratford; 7. Lexington; 8. Summerville; 9. Spartanburg; 10. Irmo

Boys team Class AAAA rankings: 1. Dorman; 2. Lexington; 3. Ridge View; 4. Stratford; 5. Fort Mill; 6. Spring Valley; 7. Irmo; 8. Dutch Fork; 9. Mauldin; 10. Spartanburg

UN-BEE-LIEVABLE � Westminster Catawba senior Caitlin Selle won the Girls Black division race at the Furman Invitational running a 20:29. Selle was stung on the foot by a bee during the race. She crossed the finish line with the bee still inside her shoe.

TOP 10 AREA FASTEST CROSS COUNTRY TIMES

Boys: 1. 15:18 Mark Blackmon, Fort Mill, Oct.3; 2. 16:25 Kevin Ketner, Nation Ford, Oct.3; 3. 16:46, Mick Francis, Clover, Oct.3; 4. 16:56 Avery Martin, Fort Mill, Oct.3; 5. 17:08 Max Welborn, Northwestern, Sept. 12; 6. 17:10 Seth Warner, Fort Mill, Oct.3; 7. 17:10 Alex Flores, Clover, Oct.3; 8. 17:17 Legrand Guerry, York, Sept.29; 9. 17:18.4 Wylie Penegar, Lancaster, Sept.8; 10. 17:20 Bo Hutchison, Rock Hill, Oct.3.

Girls: 1. 18:53 Meredith Kilburn, Fort Mill, Oct.3; 2. 19:41 Caitlin Selle, Westminster Catawba, Oct.3; 3. 19:46 Sarah Baker, Northwestern, Oct.3; 4. 19:49 Abby Lewis, Fort Mill, Oct.3; 5. 20:13 Taylor Miller, Fort Mill, Oct.3; 6. 20:36 Rachael Summers, Northwestern, Oct.3; 7. 20:40 Aubrey Gunnels, Nation Ford, Sept.5; 8. 20:40 Julia Van Buskirk, Fort Mill, Oct.3; 9. 20:41 Lisa Nichols, Fort Mill, Oct.3; 10. 20:49 Kelly Little, Northwestern, Oct.3.

GIRLS TENNIS � Weather permitting, Clover will host Nation Ford at 5 p.m. today in a big Region 3-AAAA battle. The Blue Eagles are undefeated in the region play. Nation Ford has just one loss.

VOLLEYBALL � Nation Ford and Rock Hill are still ranked on the South Carolina volleyball coaches poll. Nation Ford is ranked third while Rock Hill is ranked seventh.

South Carolina Volleyball Coaches Poll (Oct 13)

CLASS AAAA

1. Dorman; 2. Lexington; 3. Nation Ford; 4. Aiken; 5. White Knoll; 6. Blythewood; 7. Rock Hill; T8. Wando; T8. Hillcrest; 10. Byrnes

CLASS AAA

1. D.W. Daniel; 2. Pickens; 3. Lugoff-Elgin; 4. Riverside; 5. Bluffton; 6. Eastside; 7. South Aiken; 8. Battery Creek; 9. Camden; 10. Brookland-Cayce

CLASS AA

1. Bishop England; 2. Gilbert; 3. Dillon; 4. Ashley Ridge; 5. Edisto; 6. Keenan; 7. Hanahan; 8. Central; 9. Columbia;10. Chesnee

CLASS A

1. Southside Christian; 2. Landrum; 3. North Central; 4. Johnsonville; 5. Christ Church; 6. East Clarendon; 7. Lake View; 8. Ninety Six; 9. Branchville; 10. Academic Magnet