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Hudson overcomes Vanguard

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 15, 2009

OCALA - Saturday afternoon, the Hudson volleyball team played in front of the loudest crowd it has seen all season. And the Cobras silenced them the best way they could - by winning.

Hudson fought back from a 2-1 deficit to beat Ocala Vanguard 25-22, 17-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-9 in the Class 4A-Region 2 final.

"At first it's so nerve-wracking," said Hudson senior Katy McGee, still shaking from excitement. "You can't even hear yourself. When you scream, your head starts pounding ... you can't listen to anyone."

Hudson (24-3) will travel to The Lakeland Center on Friday to face Jensen Beach in the state semifinals.

"I've said it all year with every team we've played, they are a good team," Hudson coach Shayna Munson said of Vanguard. "(Holly Pole) is phenomenal, their setter (MaryEllen Pole) is great. We are deeper. We had more than just one big hitter. We had six hitters out on the court."

After winning Game 1 and then dropping Games 2 and 3, Hudson responded to the pressure by collecting the first four points in Game 4. The Cobras began to take control following a Lisa Kerns tip. Consecutive hitting errors by the Knights (21-8) put Hudson up 16-11. Back-to-back kills by Jessica Imbimbo and Carley Cara ended the game.

Game 5 was an example of using what worked. Five times Kerns set McGee on a slide kill in which McGee started left and circled right. Freshman Logan McGee put the Cobras ahead 14-9 on a kill and Jessica Christianson's let serve ended the match.

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