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Volleyball Regional Semifinals Roundup

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Tribune staff

Published: November 12, 2008

Martin, Erb Lead Plant

TAMPA Plant coach Leanna Taylor was worried her players would be distracted going into Tuesday's Class 5A-Region 3 semifinal against Palm Harbor.

It was the team's final home match of the season and Venice High, a team the Panthers have battled in the postseason the last four years, was possibly waiting for them in the next round.

Still, the Panthers kept their composure as junior Maddie Martin and senior Danielle Erb finished with 12 kills each to lead Plant in a 25-14, 25-15, 25-21 win.

Plant (26-3) will play at Venice on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the regional final for a chance to clinch its third consecutive state tournament appearance.

"We did a great job of containing our emotions," Taylor said. "We worked hard on defense and kept the ball alive."

Senior Ariel Ley added eight kills while junior setter Becca Howard had 35 assists. Erb had a team-high 15 digs and junior Ali McCurdy had 11.

Junior Cassie Roy led Palm Harbor (24-4) with 10 kills.
In the 2007 region final, Plant defeated Venice in five games.

"We think about [Venice] all year," Taylor said. "It's an exciting time in our program."

Brandon Tops River Ridge

BRANDON Several minutes after the final point of Brandon's match against River Ridge in the Class 5A-Region 2 semifinals, Eagles coach Amy Watson was still shaking.

After serving for game-point three times, Brandon collected a 25-14, 25-20, 28-26 victory, advancing to Saturday's regional final.

"If it would have gone four games, I would have expected it to go five," Watson said. "They're a phenomenal team. Their defense was phenomenal, they hit hard, they swing hard, they're very consistent."

Brandon's performance gave River Ridge coach Heidi Castelamare every reason to mirror those comments.

Anyone looking to single out an aspect of Brandon's volleyball team would be hard-pressed, as the Eagles played solid defense, moved the ball around on attacks and hit well.

Brandon's Aly Woodlee finished with 13 kills, followed by Micki Rivers' six and Lindsay Watson's five. Defensively, Woodlee and Devin Whale had 11 digs, followed by Rivers' 10. Audra Geniesse and Courtney Bobo each added five blocks.

Hudson Falls To Bishop Moore

HUDSON Rhythm and continuity are an important part of volleyball. It also helps when a team can dominate at the net.

On Tuesday in the Class 4A-Region 2 semifinals, Orlando Bishop Moore had all of the above. Hudson didn't. The result was a 25-15, 25-18, 25-14 win for the Hornets to advance to the region final against Ponte Vedra Beach Nease on Saturday.

"We never got into any rhythm tonight," Hudson coach Linda McQuade said. "And when we did for about five points, we would make a mistake and fall right back into that 'what are we doing' kind of thing."

Bishop Moore (22-7) dominated at the net, something Hudson had done a god job of doing in its previous games. Outside hitter Madison Monserez recorded 14 kills and Denise Dearman added nine.

Tampa Prep Advances

TAMPA Tampa Prep is battled-tested, hungry and playing well.

So make no mistake, Coach Mike Flynn said, despite their 14-13 record, the Terrapins are ready for a run at another state championship.

With three more victories — after Tuesday's 25-15, 25-14, 25-15 region semifinal victory against Indian Rocks Christian — and the Terrapins will have state title No. 16 in the bag, its first since 2004.
The Terrapins' next match is Saturday at 2 p.m., in a region final against Northside Christian, which defeated Canterbury 25-21, 25-15, 25-18.

Flynn said his team will take nothing for granted.

"I knew [Indian Rocks] was going to push us," Flynn said. "And I think we handled it very well."

The victory was the fourth for Tampa Prep against IRC (21-8) this season, highlighted by another strong night from senior middle hitter Dana Malinowski, who finished with seven kills, 11 digs and four aces. Senior Alena Ransom led the Terps with 10 kills, while junior Caroline Dillabough set up much of the attack with 28 assists.

Berkeley Prep Fights Back

FORT MYERS Berkeley Prep volleyball coach Randy Dagostino feared that his team's youth might have finally caught up with it.

The Buccaneers, with their six freshmen and four sophomores, dropped their first set 15-25 against host Fort Myers Bishop Verot in the semifinals of the 3A-Region 3 tournament.
It was the first set Berkeley Prep had lost this postseason.

Despite the early setback, the Bucs fought back, winning the next two sets and the match in a hard-fought 15-25, 25-20, 25-20, 22-25, 15-12 victory. It was the first loss of the season for Bishop Verot, which finished its year at 22-1.

Berkeley Prep (26-2) will host Melbourne Central Catholic at 2 p.m. Saturday. The winner will advance to the Class 3A state final four.

"I thought our youth got to us tonight," Dagostino said. "I love finishing well, but it's always nice to start sharp, and we didn't start sharp at all."

The Bucs made up for their early dullness with the help of 15 kills from freshman outside hitter Jordan Burgess.

Freshman setter/right side Mackenzie Dagostino added nine kills and 22 assists.

Bayshore Cruises Past Cambridge

TAMPA When Bayshore Christian coach Melanie Humenansky called a timeout in the first game of Tuesday's Class 1A region semifinal match with her team trailing 12-4 to Cambridge, the Crusaders' fans stood and cheered in the Faith Warriors' gym.

Humenansky said her only advice for her team was to put aside emotions and just play the team's game.

"Basically, I said 'Lets not play on emotion, lets play with our skill,'" Humenansky said. "Play with the ability that we know that we have."

The Faith Warriors responded, stringing together points to surge ahead in the first match and cruising past Cambridge 25-18, 25-14, 25-8.

Bayshore Christian sophomore Gabby Fernandez had 18 kills and seven digs.

Senior outside hitter Sami Stokes had 11 kills and six digs.

Sophomore Amanda Mirabella led the Faith Warriors with 32 assists.

Nick Williams, Rick Harmon, Eddie Daniels, Scott Purks, Jarrett Guthrie, Annabelle Tometich

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