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Plant Wins 3rd Straight State Title

Tribune photo by MICHAEL SPOONEYBARGER

Danielle Erb,#5, holds up the trophy after beating Lake Howell during the Class 5-A 2008 FHSAA Girls Volleyball Finals.

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 23, 2008

LAKELAND - In 2006, it was about redemption. The following year, the purpose was to honor the lone senior on the squad.

This year, it was about proving its dominance in Class 5A.

Saturday, the Plant High volleyball team captured its third consecutive Class 5A state title after defeating Winter Park Lake Howell 25-22, 25-15, 25-23 at The Lakeland Center.

It was the program's eighth overall title and sixth in the past eight years.

"It's definitely an honor to be a part of the Plant volleyball team," Penn State commit and junior hitter Maddie Martin said. "As a seventh- and eighth-grader, I was going to watch Plant volleyball. It's such an honor to be on the team, playing on the team and winning state championships for the school."

"I don't know if it's sunk in yet, but it is unreal," said junior setter Becca Howard, who transferred from Berkeley Prep during the summer. "It's unlike anything else. I'm just so grateful to be here, with this team."

Martin led Plant (28-3) with 14 kills, while senior hitters Danielle Erb and Ariel Ley had 13 and 10 kills, respectively. Howard had 42 assists and junior libero Ali McCurdy had 15 digs.

"It felt amazing to leave everything out on the court, give everything we got and go down swinging because we had absolutely nothing to lose," said Erb, who will play for James Madison in the fall. "It feels amazing winning a state championship your senior year."

"We were in control of the way that we left our mark on Plant," said Ley, who has signed with Davidson.

Plant led the majority of the first game until Lake Howell (26-6) tied it at 22. The Panthers regained possession of the serve and closed out the game to take a 1-0 lead. Plant put away the Silver Hawks quickly in the second game, but trailed 6-1 in Game 3 before regaining the lead.

Correy Johnson led Lake Howell with 14 kills.

"There were times when we had some great momentum," Lake Howell coach Teresa Kruczek said. "We were up 6-1 in the third game. They got back in it after their timeout."

The title was Plant's third under Leanna Taylor, who was hired as coach in 2004. She was an assistant on Plant's 2003 state title team.

"To work with Danielle, Ariel, Cameron Hill and Maddie and so many of these girls, their leadership this year was awesome," Taylor said. "As a coach, to facilitate and manage and to channel it into whatever they wanted, I think that's really a cool experience as a coach to manage different leaderships and encourage them to lead."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851.

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