The Mathews High School volleyball team, which had already entered the school’s record books last year as the first female team to win a state championship, secured its spot in the annals of MHS history on Saturday by repeating as the Virginia Group A, Division 2 champions.

The path to this second consecutive state championship wasn’t an easy one, as the Lady Devils had to battle back from a 2-1 deficit in Saturday afternoon’s finals, winning the final three sets to defeat a determined Stuarts Draft team for the crown. To get to that point, Mathews had another battle on its hands, defeating Gate City in Friday’s semifinals, 3-1.

Mathews was supported by a large contingent of fans who made the trip to VCU’s Siegel Center in Richmond on both days to root their Lady Devils on to victory.

The Siegel Center was familiar territory for the MHS girls, who have made it to the VHSL Final Four for each of the past four years. Mathews earned its most recent tr...