by James J. Lidington

ISLE OF WIGHT
Isle of Wight Academy will travel to Fredericksburg Christian this weekend to face the Eagles for the second time this year, this time in a Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II Tournament Semifinal.

The Saturday announcement of the tournament pairings concluded a breathless waiting period for the Chargers, who last played a game Oct. 29 against Fuqua. IWA reclaimed the No. 4 ranking in Division II following the overwhelming defeat, 42-0, of No. 5 Norfolk Christian on Friday by Norfolk Academy.

Norfolk Christian took over the last playoff berth last week after defeating former No. 1 Nansemond-Suffolk and Christchurch.

Fredericksburg Christian defeated IWA 41-20 on Sept. 7. The scheduled matchup marks the first playoff appearance for IWA since winning the 2015 Division III title. The team then also moved up to Division II.

The date and time of the IWA-Fredericksburg tilt has yet to be announced. North Cross School travels to N-SA in the other Division II semifinal.

Cross Country

The IWA boys and girls teams will compete this week in the VISAA Cross Country Championships after claiming the Virginia Commonwealth and Metro conference championships.

Junior Kaelyn Hooker won first place in the VCC meet and was conference MVP. IWA’s Jack Powell also claimed top boys finisher honors at the VCC meet.

The Chargers claimed the Metro Conference Cross Country Championship for both the boys and girls teams.

The IWA girls claimed the title by winning five of the top seven spots. Hooker finished second, just over a minute behind the winner.

The IWA boys placed five of the top seven runners. Powell finished second, a mere 4 seconds behind the winner.

IWA Coach Margarita Castillo was named Metro Coach of the Year.

JV Girls Volleyball

The Lady Chargers captured the 2018 Metro Conference JV girls volleyball tournament, defeating No. 2-seeded StoneBridge School, 25-16, 25-22 on Oct. 22.

IWA, the No. 1 seed, bounced fourth-seeded Portsmouth Christian from the tournament, 25-16, 25-14, in one semifinal.

Anne Jackson led the team with 67 service aces, followed by Alaina Stallings with 43. Stallings led the team in assists with 213.

Victoria Tucker led the team in unreturned kills with 66 and in digs with 163, followed by Jillian McAdoo with 140.

Varsity Girls Volleyball

IWA lost to eventual tournament champion StoneBridge 25-16, 25-17, 25-16 on Oct. 20 in a Metro Conference Tournament semifinal.

IWA’s Ashley Blair and Lauren Jones were named to the 2018 All-Metro Conference volleyball team.

JJV Girls Volleyball

The Chargers’ JJV girls team also won its tournament, defeating Portsmouth Christian Oct. 20 in straight sets on a winning tip by eighth-grader Macy Hooper.

Consistent serving, especially from eighth-graders Reagan and Rylee Robertson, led the way, along with hitting from the front line of classmates Claire Askew, Adia Menna and Payton Wright.

IWA defeated Denbigh Baptist Christian in a tournament semifinal match.

JAMES J. LIDINGTON is a teacher at Isle of Wight Academy. He can be reached at 357-3866.