WSET.com - ABC13Carter's Call for November 18, 2010

Now's a great time of year to be a sports fan!

But come to think of it, is there ever a bad time to love sports? I don't think so, but I'm pretty biased. It's my job!

Virginia Tech and Liberty took very different steps in their respective drives for conference championships this past weekend. Both took unbeaten league marks on the road. The Hokies stayed unbeaten, shutting out North Carolina the second half to win 26-10. Now Virginia Tech can win one of its last two regular season games and clinch the Coastal Division title and spot in the ACC Championship game.

Liberty wasn't so lucky. The Flames lost on the road at Coastal Carolina. Now they must win Saturday at home over league leader Stony Brook and get some help as well to earn the Big South title and automatic NCAA playoff berth that goes with it.

Jefferson Forest had an amazing volleyball season this year, winning 28 games and losing just one. That one loss, though, came at the worst time as the Cavaliers fell in four games to perennial power Cave Spring in the state quarterfinals. It was a tough defeat for JF, a team stacked with experience, 10 of its 12 players are seniors. One senior I really felt bad for was Jordan Hawkins, one of the Cavs' top players who sprained her ankle just minutes into the match and had to sit out the rest of the night. Would JF have been able to win with Hawkins at full strength?

We'll never know, but give plenty of credit to Cave Spring. The Knights played probably their best match of the season and are peaking at just the right time.

Nelson County volleyball is also headed to the Final Four in Richmond. This is the Governors' first-ever trip to the state semifinals.

Winning the Region B championship on the road at William Campbell was huge for Nelson County! The victory earned the Lady Govs a home game in the state quarterfinals as opposed to riding more than three hours on a bus and then playing in front of a hostile crowd. That's what William Campbell had to do, the Generals lost in three, the Governors won in three in front of a loud, home crowd.

It's a big Friday night for "Football Friday", plenty of playoff action around the area, region semifinal night for lots of teams.

And just a reminder. You've still got time to go to wset.com and cast your vote for our Football Friday Player of the Year. The five finalists are, in no particular order, Kendall BeCraft of Brookville, Anthony Reynolds of Liberty, Nick Miller of Gretna, Adam Hardister of Northside and Meech Coles of Staunton River. That group of five will be narrowed to three this Friday night, then we'll announce the Football Friday Player of the Year on November 26th, the day after Thanksgiving. So get your vote in soon!

For comments and story ideas, please drop me a line at dcarter@wset.com .

Dennis Carter