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Wiregrass Ranch On A Win Streak

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By EDDIE DANIELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 16, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - Last season, Wiregrass Ranch managed just three wins the entire season, but this season's bunch surpassed that in a week's time.

The Bulls are 5-13 and are on a four-matchwinning streak, which will be put on the line tonight at Gulf. The streak is the best stretch in the two-season history of the program.

On its way to the record books, Wiregrass has beaten Wesley Chapel, Springstead, Hernando and Sunlake. The wins have been made sweeter by the fact the Bulls lost to Springstead and Hernando in their first meetings.

Wiregrass began the season with a new coach in Mindy Kantor and a new system, but following an injury to a player, the system was changed to fit the players, which may have been a help in the winning streak.

'They have excelled with the new system and I'm not changing it this time,' said a laughing Kantor. 'If it's not broken at the moment, we're going to stick to the rotation.'

Key for the Bulls have been juniors Tess Chase, Nicole Grey and Shawna Ballish and sophomore Regan Knapik.

'They're just taking control,' Kantor said. 'They're helping out the younger players. They're four big sisters to the younger players.'

TOURNAMENT TIME: As the regular season winds down, here's a look where teams are headed next week for their district tournaments. The top two teams in the district will advance to the region tournament. The district champ will host a match, while the runner-up will travel.

Class 4A-District 8 at Hudson, Monday, 6:30 p.m. (Gulf, Hernando, Nature Coast, Pasco, Springstead, Sunlake, Wiregrass Ranch, Zephyrhills)

Class 1A-District 9 at Clearwater Lakeside Christian, Monday, 6 p.m. (Academy at the Lakes, Canterbury, Carrollwood, Citrus Park Christian, Oldsmar Christian)

Class 5A-District 7 at River Ridge, Oct. 23, 6:30 p.m. (Central, Land O' Lakes, Ridgewood, Wesley Chapel)

Class 2A-District 9 at Indian Rocks, Oct. 23, 6 p.m. (Bishop McLaughlin, Calvary Christian, Tampa Prep)

Class 6A-District 7 at Mitchell, Oct. 24, 6 p.m. (Alonso, Countryside, Gaither, St. Petersburg, Sickles)

BITE BACK: It looks as if Hudson has recovered and is back to its usual self. The Cobras competed in three matches last week, winning all three.

The first test was Tuesday's matchup at Zephyrhills, in which Hudson avenged its earlier loss to the Bulldogs, 21-25, 25-18, 24-26, 25-22, 17-15. The following night the team hosted Land O' Lakes and took a 21-25, 17-25, 25-19, 25-23, 15-12 win. The week came to a close Thursday with a three-game sweep of Wesley Chapel.

CONFERENCE TALK: Even with Zephyrhills in the hunt for a Sunshine Athletic Conference title, which likely will be decided between the Bulldogs and River Ridge when they meet Thursday night in New Port Richey, Zephyrhills coach Tiffany Bibby thinks the SAC would be nice, but she wants hardware that will not just give bragging rights in the county.

She wants a district title, which will give the team a playoff appearance.

'Conference game against River Ridge and in all reality, the only ones that care about conference are reporters and ADs,' said Bibby, who pointed out the two goals of the season are for a record her seniors have never had and a district title. 'A wise coach told me that and I couldn't agree more. Your district standing and how well you do in district is what gets you to the playoffs. The conference games don't mean as much in that sense.

'But I hope we go out and play well and it would be nice to get a couple more wins.'

The Volleyball Notebook will run every Tuesday in the Pasco Tribune. Coaches who want to add their team's information can submit their entries to Eddie Daniels by calling (813) 948-4214 or e-mailing edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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