Rutherford takes Chipley Invitational Volleyball Tournament

CHIPLEY - It started at 8 a.m. and finished after 10 p.m., but the Rutherford Lady Rams outlasted everyone to win the annual Chipley Invitational Volleyball Tournament Saturday.

The Lady Rams beat a gritty Freeport team 27-25, 19-25 and 15-11 to capture the tournament, the major volleyball activity to open the season in Northwest Florida.

The tournament consisted of four pools: Pool A consisted of Chipley, Laurel Hill, Rutherford and Graceville. Pool B consisted of Vernon, Munroe, Marianna and South Walton. Pool C was Holmes County, Wewahitchka, Walton County and Port St. Joe. Pool D was Bozeman, Blountstown, Freeport and Carroll (AL).

Rutherford came out of its pool to defeat Marianna, Vernon and Laurel Hill to reach the finals. Freeport defeated Vernon 25-15, 15-10 in the wild card part of the title bracket and beat Walton County 16-25, 27-25 and 15-8 to make the finals.