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Volleyball regional playoffs preview

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By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: November 10, 2009

It has been 21 years since an Armwood volleyball team advanced past the region semifinals. In 1987, the Hawks reached the Class 4A state semifinals under Coach Claudette Rice. Armwood has gone 1-3 in the playoffs since.

Newsome, which opened in 2003, made the playoffs in 2004 and 2008, but both teams lost in the opening round.

Tonight, Armwood and Newsome will meet for the third time this season for a trip to the Class 5A region final, a feat that will mark a huge accomplishment for both programs.

Armwood won the first meeting, 3-1, to secure the top seed in Class 5A-District 8 and defeated Newsome 3-2 in the district championship match.

Armwood (16-1) is having its best season in more than a decade and has been led by senior outside hitter Emilee Taylor, who leads Hillsborough County with 335 kills. Taylor also leads her team in aces (73), blocks (37) and digs (90).

Newsome (16-9) earned the program's first playoff win with a 3-1 victory against Ocala Forest last week. The Wolves have been led by senior middle hitters Hillary Byrd and Jen Worth, senior outside hitter Lauren Zellmer and junior Jonni Raga.

CLASS 6A-REGION 3: Plant (25-1) at Palm Harbor (19-3) - Plant passed its first 6A playoff test by defeating defending region champion and 2008 state semifinalist Countryside, 3-0, in the quarterfinals. Palm Harbor advanced with 3-0 win over Brandon. Outside hitters Maddie Martin and Alex Johnson have led the attack with 308 and 272 kills, respectively. Duke-bound libero Ali McCurdy leads the team in digs with 421 while senior setter Becca Howard leads the team, and Hillsborough County, in assists with 763.

CLASS 3A-REGION 3: Clearwater Central (12-13) at Berkeley Prep (25-3) - Clearwater Central advanced with a 3-0 win over Lake Placid, while Berkeley Prep moved past McKeel Academy in three games. The Buccaneers have defeated CCC twice this season, both 3-0 wins. Sophomore outside hitter Jordan Burgess has been Berkeley's go-to hitter with 318 kills.

CLASS 2A-REGION 3: Indian Rocks Christian (17-11) at Tampa Prep (14-10) - This will mark the third consecutive season IRC and Tampa Prep have met in the 2A region semifinals. Tampa Prep is 2-0 against its district rival in those meetings. Hitters Latora Lofgren and Ericka McGriff have been the top attackers for the Terrapins with 191 and 179 kills, respectively.

CLASS 1A-REGION 2: Bradenton Christian (23-5) at Bayshore Christian (15-11) - Bayshore Christian is 3-1 against Bradenton Christian this season and defeated its biggest rival in the district championship, 3-2, without its top player, junior Gabrielle Fernandez. Fernandez is questionable for tonight's match with a shoulder injury.

CLASS 1A-REGION 3: Cambridge Christian (17-11) at Canterbury (20-5) - Cambridge lost both meetings with Canterbury this season, its most recent a 3-0 loss in the district championship match. Olivia Yeager leads Cambridge with 236 kills and 113 blocks.

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