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Narrow Defeat Ends Raiders' Strong Season

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By DAREK SHARP dsharp@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2008

The Plant City Raiders came up just shy of a winning volleyball season, quite an accomplishment for a program that has not had one in nearly 20 years.

Plant City lost a tight three-game match at last week's District 6A-8 tournament in Sarasota, falling 25-21, 26-24, 28-26 to Sarasota Riverview to end the Raiders' season.

Also at the tourney, Durant kept its streak of playoff appearances intact with a thrilling semifinal victory over the host, Sarasota High. In a match where Sarasota held at least a five-point lead in each game, Durant won 18-25, 26-24, 26-24, 21-25, 15-12.

Durant was to play Tuesday night in a 6A region quarterfinal against either Sickles or Countryside. If the Cougars won, they will next be in action at the regional semis Tuesday.

Plant City went 6-8 under first-year head coach Kerri-Ann Grosso. The Raiders pushed Sarasota Riverview, which came in with a 14-9 record, to the limit before falling last Monday.

The Cougars rolled in their first match against Riverview but then had their biggest challenge last Tuesday and got past the hosts to advance to the final against Lakeland.

Durant surely would not have succeeded without the efforts of sophomore setter Erika Wardzinski, who had quite the journey that afternoon.

After playing her first round for Durant in the state girls golf tournament, Wardzinski hopped in the car with her father, Elmer, for the two-hour drive to a Sarasota volleyball match.

"I signed my scoreboard, and we pretty much left right then. We got to the volleyball match, and they were already stretching," said Wardzinski. "I was really nervous for the match, more than for golf, because we could not be the first volleyball team to not make the playoffs at Durant."

Wardzinski started off the two-day frenzy not so well, posting a 93 at the morning and early afternoon round of golf in Davenport, in north Polk County. That was 20 shots worse then her output in the 18-hole regional tournament, where Durant won the overall championship.

But last Wednesday, after her full day of competition, Wardzinski was back in Davenport and played the course in 12-over par 83.

"That was a roller-coaster ride, and she could have easily gone in the tank after her 93," said Durant golf coach Dick Sheffield. "She was tired, but I think the volleyball win emotionally lifted her up. She fought as you would expect such a great athlete to do."

Sheffield said to get a two-sport standout is rare, but to have one do so well in two sports during the same season is exceptional.

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