Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Vikings part for a day
Rachel Fertitta and Ashley Masterson will be reunited at Emory & Henry.
Rachel Fertitta and Ashley Masterson formed a dynamic duo at Northside High School.
No, they didn't put on capes and stop The Riddler from destroying Gotham City.
But in 2006, they led the Vikings' volleyball team to the first Blue Ridge District championship in the program's history.
In 2007, they won the district again and led the Vikings to the Group AA semifinals, the farthest the program has advanced.
They also developed a friendship off the court that will continue in the fall at Emory & Henry, where they will play volleyball and also room together.
After having been part of two championship volleyball teams, they both seem ready to move ahead.
"It's definitely an honor to be able to be there both times, with having a district championship and then going to the state final four," Masterson said. "But we're hoping to continue it when we go to Emory & Henry, too."
Masterson and Fertitta were both going to represent Northside at 2 p.m. today for the VHSCA volleyball all-star game at Christopher Newport University.
But due to oral surgery, Masterson can't be there.
"I'm very upset that I can't go," Masterson said. "But there's no way that I could. I'm sure they'll do fine, and Rachel will do amazing."
That means a solo appearance for Fertitta. But the two will reunite soon enough.
"We think it'll be good to play a sport together because we already know how each other play and we know how we act on the floor," Fertitta said. "We're super excited because we hope that we can bring something else to the volleyball team at Emory & Henry."
Northside coach Amy Crawford said their success playing three sports together should help them adjust. They also played basketball and made the Group AA girls' doubles final in tennis.
"They're able to read each other without having to communicate," Crawford said. "It's going to be an advantage for the two of them to be together."
And soon, they will be roommates.
"She's one of my best friends, so it's not like we just end when it comes to sports," Masterson said. "We're together even when we're not playing."
"I'm just excited that I'm going to be playing volleyball with one of my best friends.," Fertitta said.
