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Plant Facing A Familiar Foe In Region Final

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By NICK WILLIAMS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 9, 2007

TAMPA - For three consecutive years, the Plant and Venice volleyball teams have met in the Class 5A state playoffs. Each year, without fail, the winner has advanced to the state championship.

When Plant won the region semifinal match last season, it went on to win the state championship. In 2005, Venice went on to win the state title after getting through Plant in the semifinals, and in 2004, beat Plant in the state final four only to lose in the state championship match.

In 2003, Plant moved from 4A to 5A but still won the state championship. That season, Venice played in a separate region and lost to Fort Myers, the eventual state runner-up, in the region final.

Like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the American League or the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC, Venice-Plant has become a famous postseason rivalry.

The No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the state meet Saturday at Plant (27-1) at 2 p.m. for a trip to the state final four. Also nationally recognized programs, the match is stacking up to be the biggest in Florida volleyball this season.

"They either make or break our season," said Plant coach Leanna Taylor, who is 1-2 in the postseason and 4-3 overall against Venice. "I have a lot of respect for Venice coach Brian Wheatley. He's a great coach, and I definitely have to do my best to go through him."

Coaches always say they don't look past any opponent, but Taylor knows her players have been thinking about Venice (27-3) since the season began.

"It's not verbally said, but it's in the back of our minds," she said.

For the players, playing Venice is the ultimate thrill.

"It's always exciting," Plant senior setter Kellie Catanach said. "We always prepare for them. Our school is so excited about it. We know our season comes down to them."

As an eighth-grader, sophomore sensation Maddie Martin said she attended the Plant-Venice region semifinal in 2005.

"I remember that game," Martin said. "I couldn't wait to play for Plant so I could play them."

Both programs are very familiar with each other. The Plant players said they can recite Venice's roster by memory and is positive the Indians can do the same.

"Two years ago, they took a test on us," Catanach said. "I was talking to Venice player Julie Howlett and she said, 'We had a book on you guys this thick that we had to study.'"

During this year's Tampa Bay Invitational at the University of Tampa, the teams did not play each other but intensely scouted one another. When they crossed paths, both sides tried to be as cordial as possible.

"It's a love-hate relationship," Plant junior outside hitter Danielle Erb said. "You're born into this. You're captivated by it."

Volleyball Region Finals

Class 6A
Orlando Edgewater (19-10) at Durant (20-6)
Outlook: Edgewater is coming off a mild upset against Orlando Olympia, winning 25-22, 24-26, 25-19, 26-24. Durant is making its deepest playoff run since 2002, when the program won its third state title. The Cougars have been led through the regional by senior setter Alexa Donini, who is coming off a 32-assist, 15-dig performance against Sickles.

Class 5A
Venice (27-3) at Plant (27-1)
Outlook: Both state- and nationally-ranked teams, Venice and Plant have become accustomed to meeting each other in the postseason. Owners of the last two Class 5A state championships, Venice eliminated Plant in the region semifinals in 2005, but Plant returned the favor last year en route to its state championship. Plant's top hitters, Maddie Martin and Danielle Erb, have 262 and 259 kills, respectively, this season.

Winter Park Lake Howell (27-2) at Brandon (22-3)
Outlook: Lake Howell hasn't lost a game this postseason, but is traveling to Brandon, which has developed a boisterous crowd during the season. Brandon is making program history for being the first team to travel this deep in the postseason since the late 1980s. Sophomore Alexandra Woodlee leads Brandon with 223 kills.

Class 3A
Fort Pierce John Carroll (18-11) at Berkeley Prep (23-6)
Outlook: Berkeley Prep eliminated John Carroll in the region semifinals last season as the team advanced to the state championship. John Carroll is coming off a 25-23, 17-25, 30-28, 27-25 win against Melbourne Central Catholic, while the Buccaneers held off Academy of the Holy Names 25-12, 25-22, 25-19. Berkeley junior libero Christina Theofilos leads Hillsborough County in digs with 542.

Class 2A
Tampa Prep (15-13) at Fort Myers Evangelical Christian (24-5)
Outlook: Coming off a semifinal win against district rival and state No. 7-ranked Indian Rocks Christian, the Terrapins travel to face No. 3 Evangelical Christian, which handed Plant its only loss of the season. Tampa Prep has been led by outside hitters Alisa French and Alena Ransom and middle blocker Dana Malinowski.

Class 1A
Bayshore Christian (25-5) at Boynton Beach Lake Worth Christian (21-8)
Outlook: State No. 2 Bayshore Christian travels to face No. 7 Lake Worth Christian in hopes of making its fourth state final four appearance in five years. The Faith Warriors have one of the top hitters in the state in senior Jannica Mollett, whose 4.3 kills per match rank her fifth through all classifications, according to MaxPreps.com.

Nick Williams

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848 or nwilliams@tampatrib.com.

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