By MARKSCOLFORO

By MARKSCOLFORO

Rappahannock N»w« Staff WriUr

The Rappahannock High volleyball team held off a late rally by Manassas Park Monday night to clinch at least a tie-breaker to decide if they or Clarke County will advance to the four-team Bull Run District Tournament this weekend.

Clarke was scheduled to play Manassas Park Wednesday, and if the Eagles win they would force a tiebreaking game against the Panthers at Stonewall Jackson-Mount Jackson Thursday.

Rappahannock’s varsity beat the MP Cougars, 15-8, 17-15 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score until the very end of the second game, and then primarily because the entire RCHS bench was put in to get some experience.

“It was like our Super Bowl,” ' said Coach Paul Paratore. The largest crowd of the season showed up for the home win, which improved the team’s record to 9-5 overall, 4-4 in the district. Clarke was 3-4 in the district going into their Wednesday night game against Manassas Park.

“They were under pressure, and they won under pressure,” said Coach Paratore. After the emotional win some of the Rappahannock players burst into tears.

The nine wins is a new school record, beating last year’s mark of 8-5. Rappahannock has never made the district volleyball tournament.

Assuming Clarke loses or the Panthers win the tie-breaker, Rappahannock will travel to Page County for the tournament, which begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. The first- and second-place JV teams will also play the JV championship at Page Saturday, and district coaches will select their first, second and honorable-mention teams for the season.

The regular season standings don’t count for anything except determining tournament teams, and seedings. Rappahannock, if they make it, will be seeded fourth and will have to play the top-ranked team, probably Page County.