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Talented Pool Scheduled For Premier

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By NICK WILLIAMS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 24, 2007

Some of the best volleyball teams in the southeast part of the country will travel to Tampa this weekend to participate in the 2007 Berkeley Prep Premier, which will be held at the University of Tampa's Martinez Complex on Friday and Saturday.

Included in this year's 16-team tournament are nine Florida ranked teams, two of which are nationally ranked, and Louisville juggernaut Mercy Academy, which is currently No. 9 in the Century Club National Top 100 poll. Headlining the Florida teams in the tournament are nationally ranked Plant (No. 23) and Class 6A powerhouse Gainesville Buchholz (No. 73). Both are ranked No. 1 in the latest state volleyball poll. Other state-ranked teams include host Berkeley Prep (No. 2 in Class 3A), Durant (No. 10 in 6A), Academy of the Holy Names (No. 6 in 3A), defending Class 3A champion Orlando Lake Highland Prep (No. 1 in 3A), Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (No. 3 in 5A), Winter Park (No. 3 in 6A) and Fort Myers Evangelical Christian (No. 2 in 2A).

Tampa Prep, Bolles, Orlando First Academy, Leon, and Georgia schools Woodward Academy and Northview are also included in the tournament.

Last year, Plant went 3-2 in the Premier, falling to Lake Highland and Mercy Academy.

Matches start at 3 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday.

LETO: The Falcons are 6-1 and undefeated in district play heading into their district match against undefeated and nationally-ranked Plant on Wednesday.

'I have some phenomenal players,' Leto coach Kristy Beamer said. 'For most of them, it's their fourth year together.'

The Falcons are led by senior middle hitter Shontel Branton, a 6-foot middle hitter, and outside hitters Fatima Dominguez and Simone Jackson.

Beamer knows her players will have to play a well-rounded game against Plant.

'We know we have to play scrappy,' she said. 'We got to dig some balls against Plant.'

LANCERS IN A TURNAROUND: Around this time last season, Cambridge coach Janelle Barnes, then an assistant coach, said the Lancers were 1-9. As of Friday's games, Cambridge is 10-1.

'It was the complete opposite,' Barnes said. 'We're a year older. We had one senior last year.'

The team is led by senior setter Caroline Conner, who, Barnes said, is 'our glue' and senor middle hitter Ashley Parsley.

The Lancers could give defending district champ Bayshore Christian a run for the money when they meet on Oct. 2.

'That will be the game of the year right there,' Barnes said.

CATANACH: Plant senior setter Kellie Catanach was named to the Prepvolleyball.com Senior Aces Top 250, which ranks the top 250 players in the nation for the class of 2008. Catanach, who verbally committed to Duke last fall, was a Prepvolleyball.com All-American in 2006.

PANTHERS BREAK INTO TOP 25: The Plant volleyball team moved up to No. 23 in the Century Club National Top 100 Volleyball Poll. The defending Class 5A state champs were previously ranked No. 26.

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

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