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Ravens Beat Cowboys In Five Games

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By NICK WILLIAMS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 12, 2007

TAMPA - In an evenly matched district showdown on Thursday, the Alonso and Gaither volleyball teams battled to an emotional finish, with the Ravens coming out on top in five games, 17-25, 25-21, 17-25, 25-16, 15-12.

Because it was Senior Night at Alonso, the Ravens wanted to complete their sweep of the Cowboys for their final match of the regular season.

Led by junior Kaitlin Liguori's 20 kills, Alonso was successful.

'My team typically lets the points add up so they can come from behind,' Alonso coach Michelle Chase said.

With its back against the wall, Alonso (7-6 overall, 4-6 district) took an early lead in Game 4 and didn't look back to force a fifth game. Game 5 was tied at 10, but a few costly mistakes by Gaither went in Alonso's favor.

'We usually get cocky when we win a game or two, but when it came down to the fifth game we knew we had to get it done,' Liguori said.

Senior setter Marcela Lopez added 37 assists for the Ravens.

'It was real emotional up and down for both teams,' Gaither coach Tim Boylan said. 'There was a lot of momentum swings, even in the last game.'

Senior Jaime Kamps-Duac led Gaither (6-9, 3-7) with 10 kills and seven blocks. Tiffany Eveld added eight kills and Florida Gulf Coast-commit Elissa Hausmann had 26 digs. Senior and Warner Southern-bound setter Natalie Williams had 37 assists, nine digs and five aces.

In the second game, the teams were tied at 18, then at 21, but Alonso scored four consecutive points to take the game. In the third game, Gaither found its second wind quickly, handling the Ravens with a 21-15 lead.

Liguori, statistically one of the top hitters in Hillsborough County, never substituted out of the match.

'I think we really deserved to win because we beat them last time and it was senior night,' Liguori said.

'She's phenomenal,' Chase said. 'If you saw her freshman year, it's a complete 180. She has her hitting down and she has truly become a phenomenal player.'

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

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