×BRISTOL, Va. – The Wise County Central Warriors headed home after a marathon day of volleyball on Saturday with a runner-up plaque and a ringing endorsement from Hidden Valley coach Pierre Ellis.

“For him to come up to me after the game and say, ‘You’ve got a heck of a team,’ ” said Central coach Kim Mathes. “I told him, ‘My team will realize that one day,’ and I think they’re getting there.”

The Warriors (5-1) won four of their five matches en route to their second place showing at the Sunset Slush Summer Slam at Virginia High’s Bearcat Den.

Two-time defending VHSL Class 3 state champion Hidden Valley won the 10-team event as the Titans from Roanoke took a 25-15, 25-17 victory over Central in the title match.

Wise County Central led 9-8 in the first set and 5-3 in the second set, bu

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