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Emotional Win For Panthers

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 16, 2008

VENICE - Her initials were on their hands.

Prior to their Class 5A-Region 3 final against Venice on Saturday, Plant volleyball players penned A. F. on their hands, in memory of Ally Faulk, the Plant senior who died in a car accident Friday.

Fighting through sorrow, the Panthers prevailed, 25-13, 23-25, 25-15, 25-15.

"We played for her," said senior outside hitter Danielle Erb, who led Plant with 20 kills. Erb and Faulk worked on the school yearbook together.

Plant, the two-time defending state champion, advances to the 5A state tournament for the third consecutive year and will face Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas in the semifinals at 8 p.m. Friday.

Plant cruised in Game 1 but was playing point-for-point with a resilient Venice team in Game 2. With the game tied 23-23, Venice scored the final two points to even the match.

Junior hitter and Penn State commitment Maddie Martin finished with 13 kills and four aces, while junior Leah Jordan had 12 kills and senior Ariel Ley 11. Senior middle hitter Dickie Jordan caused problems for Venice at the net, offensively and defensively, with 10 kills and five blocks.

"It was a total team effort," Plant coach Leanna Taylor said. "This was an all-or-nothing kind of game."

It was the fifth straight year the teams met in the postseason and the third consecutive win for Plant.

"Every time we play them, I just can't explain the feeling," Martin said. "If we beat them, we know we're going to Lakeland again. It's the best feeling in the world."

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