Herbert Hoover’s dominant play at the net proved too much for Grafton on Tuesday as the Huskies advanced to the WVSSAC Class AAA state volleyball tournament semifinals.

Ahaziah Smith, Jessi Crook and Ashlyn Clay's play and Lauren Pleska's service sparked No. 1-seeded Hoover to a quarterfinal win over Grafton, 3-0 (25-6, 25-21, 25-8) to get what Huskies coach Missy Smith called an important win on the tournament’s first day at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.

“It’s big,” said Smith. “It’s lose and go home, so when you start out with some momentum, it’s easier to keep it rolling as you go through. You don’t get down and have to dig out of a hole.”

Hoover advanced to face fourth-seeded John Marshall later Tuesday in the semifinals.

No. 8 seed Grafton was playing in its first s

See Full Page