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Durant Delights Home Fans

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By JARRETT GUTHRIE, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 11, 2007

PLANT CITY - Durant used a total team effort and homecourt advantage to win its Class 6A volleyball region final Saturday against Orlando Edgewater 25-23, 24-26, 25-23, 25-22. The Cougars (21-6) improved to 10-0 at home this season.

Amid a gym full of onlookers, there was a noticeable section of around 50 Durant students, a majority of whom were dressed in a golden T-shirt with the phrase "The 7th Man" and stood for the entire match.

"Our fans are so supportive," junior middle hitter Kelsey Horton said. "Look how many of them are here, they tailgate before the match and they are awesome."

And the Cougars players didn't disappoint their cheering section. In the deciding game the Cougars had as much as a six-point advantage and held on to advance to the state semifinals.

"We had a job to do," Cougars coach Dawn Hough said. "We weren't happy with our first two games. We weren't loud and we weren't communicating, but in those last two games we did that and we came together."

In the fourth game Horton looked confident around the net, picking up four of her six blocks in the game and three kills. Horton finished with 13 kills, two aces and eight digs.

"All I thought is that I wasn't going to let this match go five games," Horton said. "I committed to Edgewater's big hitters and played how we needed to play."

Durant at one point in the final game held a seven-point advantage and Hough said she kept reminding her players to stay focused.

"I kept telling them, 'Nine points until states ... eight points until states ... push, push, push,'" Hough said. "Our seniors were undefeated at home this year and I know that meant the world to them."

In the match's first game, Stephanie Eukovich had two aces as Cougars rallied from a 23-22 deficit for three straight points and the win.

The Eagles responded in the second game as the Cougars had the lead early before Edgewater tied it 14-all. Edgewater rallied down 24-23 for three straight points and the win.

In the third game, Durant maintained control, putting together six two-point runs and one three-point run.
Edgewater (19-11) was led by senior outside hitter Ciara Jones, who had 20 kills. Ashley Ball had 28 assists, four digs and two aces for the Eagles.

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