If you need more teams, get more space.

Friday, September 10, 1999

If you need more teams, get more space. That’s just what Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers volleyball coach Kevin Richardson did as he expanded the Ironton Invitational Tournament set for this weekend.

Besides the old Ironton High School gym, the tournament will utilize St. Joe school.

"This year we’re also using St. Joe’s gym due to more teams in it," said Richardson. "It will be a competitive tournament with no clear-cut favorite."

In pool A at Ironton’s gym, Chesapeake plays Ironton at 9 a.m., Boyd County faces Ironton at 10 a.m., and then Chesapeake goes against Boyd County at 11 a.m.

In poll B at St. Joe, Coal Grove tangles with St. Joe at 9 a.m., Rock Hill plays St. Joe at 10 a.m., and Coal Grove and Rock Hill meet at 11 a.m.

The finals will be played at Ironton’s gym beginning at noon with the consolation game between the third place teams from each pool.

At 1 p.m. is the consolation game between the two runner-up teams, and the championship will be held at 2 p.m.

"I would rate Chesapeake as the favorite. They’ve got a good program right now. But Rock Hill and Coal Grove should challenge," said Richardson.

"Coal Grove and Rock Hill have done a good job turning their programs around. Ellen Adkins (Coal Grove) and Heather Hardy (Rock Hill) have done excellent coaching jobs."

St. Joe is guided by first-year coach Beth Freeman.

Ironton, 19-4, lost five starters and Richardson said "we’re really inexperienced. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us."