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Wiregrass Ranch Ease Into 'Green Zone' Against Wesley Chapel

By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 10, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - It was clear Thursday night inside the Wesley Chapel High gym, the Wildcats would not be taken for granted.
For as much as Wesley Chapel scratched and clawed, Wiregrass Ranch matched that effort, collecting a hard-fought 22-25, 25-14, 25-22, 23-25, 15-11 victory.
Following the match, Wiregrass coach Mindy Kantor asked one assistant how many times this season the team has gone to five games. She then asked another.
Each reaction came with a roll of the eyes and a sigh, suggesting frayed nerves of the numerous.
After Thursday night, the number of five-game contests came to four – all Wiregrass victories
"They got motivated," Kantor said. "They found what they call their 'Green Zone.' They knew what they needed to do to get back in that zone and were able to pull it out."
Wesley Chapel, the clear underdog in the matchup, sent an early message by winning Game 1, but Wiregrass (10-7) snatched both Games 2 and 3.
The three ties and both team's inability to gain clear control of Game 4 was evidence of how hotly contested it was. Wiregrass grabbed an early, 3-0 advantage, which was short-lived.
The Wildcats (4-12) began to edge ahead on a Wiregrass hitting error, coupled with an Adele Ashley kill. A second Bulls hitting error in addition to Erin Hamilton's kill gave Wiregrass the 9-5 lead.
Later in the game, a quick tip by Bulls setter Adriana Lamb on a Wesley Chapel free ball knotted the contest, 22-22. That Wiregrass thrill came to an abrupt end on a Hannah Mitchell tip.
That Wildcats victory forced a Game 5.
Maybe it was the previous experience in the pressure cooker situation for the Bulls, but they pulled ahead to a commanding 10-2 advantage, forcing Wesley Chapel coach Perri Hankins to call a timeout.
From that point, something changed. The Wildcats went on a 7-0 tear, cutting the deficit to 10-9 and inducing Wiregrass into its own timeout.
"It was amazing," Hankins said. "We came over here during the timeout and it's trying to get your players to believe against all odds, you know. They came over and they were saying it and they were believing it because it has to be them. I can only say it so much and try to get that positive thinking."
Up 13-11, consecutive aces by April Candelaria ended the match, giving Wiregrass the victory and allowing Kantor and her assistants to ease back from the edge of their seats.