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Cobras looking back in bid to get ahead

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By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: November 4, 2009

Last week, hours before Hudson's district volleyball finals game against Ridgewood, Cobras coach Shayna Munson popped in a videotape for her players to watch.

It was a tad dated - recorded 10 years ago - and it drew giggles. But in the ensuing moments, that laughter turned into a razor-like focus.

It was a video of Munson's high school, Temperance Bedford in Temperance, Mich., in the state finals. Her point was simple: I've been there and I've done it, and I can get you there.

During her four seasons at the school, the team won one state title and was a state runner-up three times.

"I know how to be loose, how to stay loose but be focused at the same time," Munson said. "So I just focus on keeping my girls loose, making sure they're having fun, yet doing the things they're supposed to do. The little things to me are the huge things."

The Cobras (21-3) are one group preparing for tonight's Class 4A region tournament. Zephyrhills (19-5) will travel to Hudson, while Ridgewood (19-8) is headed north to Nature Coast (20-8).

There's an interesting dynamic in the Ridgewood-Nature Coast matchup; Sarangelys Cruz's father is an assistant for the Sharks. The previous two seasons he was an assistant with Ridgewood.

Despite that and the fact the teams were at the Bradenton Southeast tournament, they haven't played this season. But Ridgewood coach Amber Starkey knows what to expect from the Sharks' big hitters, Alex Livengood and Courtney Liddle.

"They're two strong players," Starkey said. "We need to play on the offensive. We can't be playing defense all night long and be successful. They're going to hit the ball and we know they hit the ball hard. Hopefully our defense can answer it. They serve the ball well as well, so our serve receive is going to be important as well."

Although it was in a losing effort, Zephyrhills played tough late against Nature Coast in the 4A-District 8 finals last week. Considering the hectic environment inside the Hudson gym, Bulldogs coach Dan Muir wants his players to continue their efforts tonight.

"We go play our game," Muir said. "I tried to adjust to (Nature Coast) and it didn't go well. Once we start to just play our game, we can compete. That's a tough environment and Hudson's an old-time rival. That's always been, in Pasco County, the team to beat, so that's how we're going in."

Muir knows his team can't give away points with errant passes or blown serves if it wants to reverse the misfortunes of September. That was the first time it faced Hudson, which won 25-17, 25-21, 25-16.

Still, that means very little to Munson.

"Every game we go into, I make sure the girls know the record doesn't matter," Munson said "We could be 25-0 or what we are, 21-3, it doesn't matter. Right now we're 0-0 and we have to get through this game before we move on."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 259-7066.

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