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Terrapins Hoping To Keep Momentum

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By NICK WILLIAMS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 22, 2007

The Tampa Prep volleyball team's record is quite misleading. Although the Terrapins (12-12, 5-1) finished the regular season at .500 after starting the season 5-7, Prep has recorded a few key victories to give it confidence heading into the district tournament.

During the second half of the season, Prep defeated Class 6A and state-ranked Durant, Weston Cypress Bay and Boca Raton Spanish River, but its most important win came with a three-game sweep of previously undefeated, state-ranked and district foe Indian Rocks Christian.

'When you see a team work as hard as they do, you want to see them rewarded,' said Tampa Prep coach Mike Flynn, who is in his fourth year leading the program. 'In the second half of the season, the girls have realized that they are a good volleyball team. Those games bring a lot to a volleyball program.'

The win propelled Tampa Prep into the state rankings (No. 10 in 2A) and a tie for the top seed heading into the 2A-District 9 tournament to be held at Indian Rocks Christian beginning Tuesday. Prep won the top seed by coin flip. The Golden Eagles (23-2) won the coin toss last year.

Tampa Prep lost the first meeting to Indian Rocks Christian 3-0, but the team is confident going against the Golden Eagles in a possible rematch in the district final.

'They understand it'll be in their gym with their fans,' Flynn said. 'We understand what its going to take to beat them.'

'I think we have a lot of confidence going into the district tournament,' junior middle hitter Dana Malinowski said.

Senior outside hitter Alisa French leads the team in kills with 163, followed by junior Alena Ransom with 154 and Malinowski with 125. Junior middle hitter Marre Paone has 63 solo blocks while Malinowski is second with 52. Sophomore setter Caroline Dillabough leads the team with 325 assists while senior libero Lauren Levine leads in digs with 157.

'Lauren Levine has been playing really well the second half of the season,' Flynn said. 'So has junior Anna Dalence and sophomore Megan Aschenbrener. Those three in the back row have been good for us. Our setters are getting one-on-one opportunities for us.'

Since winning the 2A state championship in 2004, Tampa Prep hasn't been able to advance past the region quarterfinals. In 2005 and 2006, Prep, as the district runner-up, lost to Evangelical Christian, the state runner-up last season.

As the district champion, Tampa Prep could face Indian Rocks Christian in the regional semis and Evangelical Christian in the region final.

'We could see each other again,' Flynn said.

Overall, Tampa Prep has won 14 state volleyball titles.

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

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