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Berkeley Prep Foiled Again

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By NICK WILLIAMS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 15, 2007

LAKELAND - For the third consecutive year, Orlando Lake Highland Prep defeated the Berkeley Prep volleyball team in the Class 3A state volleyball tournament, this time eliminating the Buccaneers in the semifinals 25-21, 19-25, 25-17, 25-22 Wednesday at The Lakeland Center.

Berkeley Prep had lost to Lake Highland in the last two state championship matches, falling in three games last year. The team also lost a regular-season match to Lake Highland 3-2.

Lake Highland advances to the 3A state championship match today at 4:30 p.m. against Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest.

The Buccaneers (24-7) were led by sophomore outside hitters Alex Dickerson and Chelsea Parker, who finished with 13 kills each. Sophomore middle hitter Lindsay Young added 12 kills, nine digs and three blocks.

The players agreed nerves and playing in a much larger facility hindered their performance. If given a second chance, the players said the outcome could have been much different.

"We have a record of coming out timid at The Lakeland Center," said junior libero Christina Theofilos, who finished with a match-high 31 digs. "I feel that we were a different team tonight."

"You've got to play your game and I feel like we never got into a flow," Berkeley Prep coach Randy Dagostino said.

Berkeley Prep couldn't catch a break either. Whenever the Bucs made a great play, Lake Highland was there to stop it. The Highlanders had 97 digs, compared with Berkeley's 86.

"I have to believe they train this way, but they make a lot of one-handed digs," Dagostino said. "They cover a lot of floor."

Berkeley Prep never led in the first game and couldn't find an answer for Lake Highland's top hitters, Alexandra Franceschi and Megan Gaughn. In the second game, however, the Bucs led 6-5 and held on to tie the series at one game each. In the win, Young, Parker and Dickerson scored off a few tips at the net while the back row, consisting of Theofilos and senior Danielle Michiels, kept the ball in play with key digs.

In Game 3, the top-ranked Highlanders stole the momentum, taking a commanding 7-3 lead en route to a 25-17 win. Knowing they needed to win the fourth game for any chances of advancing to the state final, the Buccaneers rallied to close the deficit to 24-22, but couldn't catch up.

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