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Volleyball: Region matchups

By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: November 13, 2009

Before the season, Berkeley Prep coach Randy Dagostino said depth would be the key ingredient to this year's team, which returned all but one starter from last year's state final team. So far, what he foretold has remained true.

Berkeley has a number of attackers, led by sophomore hitter Jordan Burgess (328 kills) along with senior Lindsay Young (238), sophomore Mackenzie Dagostino (203), senior Chelsea Parker (172) and junior Amber Mirabello (134). Defensively, Natasha Rowland leads the team with 397 digs, while Burgess is second on the team with 346. In Berkeley's 6-2 formation (two setters), Dagostino has amassed 614 assists while Ginny Willis has 463.

Berkeley (26-3) will travel to face undefeated Fort Myers Bishop Verot (27-0), which has been led by junior outside hitter Sarah Toggweiler, who has a team-high 271 kills.

6A-3: ORLANDO DR. PHILLIPS AT PLANT (26-1): Dr. Phillips, which reached the 6A region final last year, has dominated the Orlando area this season. The team is led by 6-foot-1 hitter and Rollins College-bound senior Megan Hodges. Plant has shown it has few weaknesses on the court. Offensively, setter Becca Howard (800 assists) can set to outside hitters Maddie Martin (326 kills) or Alex Johnson (280 kills) and has consistently found senior middle hitter Leah Jordan (168 kills) on the quick set and slide play. Defensively, Katie Daorai (176 digs) and Ali McCurdy (429 digs) have constantly kept the ball in play wherever they are on the court.

5A-2: NEWSOME (17-9) AT LAKELAND (20-5): Before this season, Newsome had never won a playoff match. Now, the Wolves are one win away from playing in the state tournament. Hillary Byrd, Lauren Zellmer, Jonni Raga and Jennifer Worth have led the Wolves, who are coming off a 3-2 win vs. district rival Armwood in the semifinals to advance. ... Junior hitter Hope Andreadis leads the Dreadnaughts with 381 kills and 299 digs. Lakeland lost in the 6A region semifinals last season.

2A-3: NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN (21-9) AT TAMPA PREP (15-10): Northside Christian reached the 2A region final last year. The team is led by 6-foot-2 junior Jennica Mullins, who has a team-high 169 kills and team-high 56 blocks. ... Tampa Prep is hoping to reach the state tournament for the second consecutive season. The Terrapins have dropped two games in their last six matches and have been led by outside hitters Latora Lofgren (204 kills) and Ericka McGriff (192 kills).

1A-2: BAYSHORE CHRISTIAN (16-11) AT SOUTH DAYTONA WARNER CHRISTIAN (25-3): These teams met in the 1A state championship in 2007, which Bayshore Christian won in four sets. Warner Christian is the defending 1A state champion. ... Junior hitter Gabrielle Fernandez returned from a two-week absence due to an injured shoulder to lead the Faith Warriors past district rival Bradenton Christian on Tuesday. The 5-11 hitter currently leads Hillsborough County with 358 kills. ... Senior setter Katie Lindstrom has controlled Warner's offense with 836 assists.

1A-3: CAMBRIDGE (18-11) AT MERRITT ISLAND CHRISTIAN (18-5): The Lancers last reached the region final in 2004, where they lost to Bayshore Christian 3-0. The program has never been to the state tournament. ... Cambridge got 17 kills and four blocks from sophomore Olivia Yeager in its last win. Yeager has been the team's go-to hitter with 266 kills and leads at the net with 122 blocks. ... Merritt Island lost in the 1A state championship to Warner Christian last year.

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