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Tampa Prep's Seniors Want A 16th Banner

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 10, 2008

TAMPA - On each of the 15 state volleyball championship banners hanging in Tampa Prep's gymnasium, there is a list of players and coaches who made it possible.

The 15 state titles are the second-most volleyball championships won by a school in Florida history, behind the 18 won by Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons. The Terrapins last won a state title in 2004.

Seniors Anna Dalence, Alena Ransom and Dana Malinowski don't have their names on any of the banners. Now in their final prep season, the trio is hoping to lead the team to another banner year for Prep.

"It's been our goal," Dalence said.

"That's the mind-set when you get here," Ransom said.

The Terrapins (13-13) host Indian Rocks Christian in the Class 2A region semifinals Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Malinowski, a 6-foot-1 middle hitter, has 252 kills, 53 blocks and 193 digs while Ransom, a 5-10 outside hitter, has 267 kills, 41 aces and 168 digs. Dalence is the defensive leader with 265 digs.

Only a junior, setter Caroline Dillabough controls the offense with a Hillsborough County-leading 705 assists.

It's been a frustrating season for Tampa Prep, which didn't reach .500 until its win against Fort Meade in the region quarterfinals. The seniors, however, look beyond the team's record.

Coach Mike Flynn purposely planned a tough schedule to get his team ready for the postseason. The Terrapins competed in the highly regarded Berkeley Premier and hosted the Tampa Bay Invitational, two of the top volleyball tournaments in the Southeast region. Prep went a combined 1-9 in the tournaments, but all were against top-caliber opponents. During tournament play, Tampa Prep lost to nationally ranked Berkeley Prep, Plant and Orlando Timber Creek, as well as to Class 3A powerhouses Gainesville P.K. Yonge and Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest.

The players admit the early losses were frustrating, but didn't let it ruin their dream of winning a state title. As far as they are concerned, all that matters now is how they finish.

"It's the easy thing to have the winning record," Ransom said.

"Mike says you can go 0-25, but all that matters is the last seven matches," Malinowski said.

Those seven matches translate winning every match from the start of the district tournament.

"We need to make sure the girls understand the end game," Flynn said. "We were right in those matches. It really did prepare us for this."

"We've played some really hard teams and we played close with some of them," Malinowski said.

Since the Tampa Invitational, the Terrapins have won five of their last seven matches and are on a four-match win streak.

"I think there is a heightened focus," Ransom said. "Now it's like 'Turn it on.'"

"I think their hunger for winning a state title is determined by how well they play," Flynn said.

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848.

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