The Mathews High School varsity volleyball team claimed the Conference 42 title last Thursday, defeating the Cumberland Dukes, 3-1, in the championship match.

On Monday, the Lady Devils won the first round of the Region 1A East tournament against Windsor. At 6 o’clock tonight, Mathews will host Northumberland in the regional semifinals, with the winner advancing to Saturday’s title game and earning a bid to next week’s state tournament.

The first set of last week’s game against Cumberland wasn’t much of a struggle as the Lady Devils won it, 25-17. After a back-and-forth battle, Cumberland took the second set, 28-26, to even the match. Mathews found itself down, 11-6, in the third. The Devils went on an eight-point run to take the lead for a moment, but Cumberland did not concede and the set was soon tied at 16. The teams exchanged points back and forth and found themselves even at 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 points apiece as well.

After a timeout, MHS...