The New River Valley 15 National Junior Volleyball team traveled to Richmond recently and finished 14th of fifty-six teams entered in the 15's division. 

After a disappointing first day, the team went on to win 4 of their final 5 matches, defeating the top Williamsburg and top Virginia Beach teams along the way. 

The head coach is Tom Houser and is assisted by Audrey Easter (James River High) and Kendall Patterson (Radford Univ). 

The team will be attending seven tournaments this season, including trips to Washington DC in February, Atlanta in April, and hopefully, if they win the state championship, to Reno in June for Junior Nationals. 

Coach Houser's teams have twice won the state championship, in 2006 and 2009. 

You can visit the team at www.coachhouser.com "

Photo: (Top left) Team members include: front row,Tom Houser, Morgan Robison (Patrick Henry), Lynsey Barker (Hidden Valley), Ava Perez (Roanoke Catholic), Allison Burton (Hidden Valley), Haley Maddox (William Byrd), Sarah Gray (Hidden Valley), and Hanna Podeschi (Hidden Valley). The girl in the middle of it all is Jenny Clark (Hidden Valley). Back row, Assistant Kendall Patterson (Soph at Radford University), Caroline Boone (Hidden Valley), Madison Morris (William Byrd), Lauren Thomas (Hidden Valley), Gussie Revercomb (North Cross), Coach Audrey Easter (head varsity coach at James River High) and Assistant Caroline Brown (soph. at Lord Botetourt). (Photo courtesy of Tom Houser)