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Newsome makes history

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 15, 2009

LAKELAND - There were moments during Saturday's Class 5A-Region 2 championship when the Newsome volleyball team could have folded.

Just when the Wolves thought they were on a run, Lakeland shrugged off Newsome's lead with a demoralizing rally of its own.

But as they've done all season, the Wolves found a way to win, defeating Lakeland 25-23, 30-28, 25-21 to advance to the Class 5A state tournament for the first time in school history.

Newsome (19-9) will face Martin County, the 10th-ranked team in the nation, at 8 p.m. Wednesday at The Lakeland Center in the state semifinals.

"This is just an amazing feeling," said Newsome senior middle hitter Hillary Byrd, who finished with nearly a dozen kills and five blocks. "This is the farthest this team has ever gone and I can't believe it."

"I knew we could do it," said junior hitter Jonni Raga, who had 11 kills and a slew of digs. "We all came together and made it happen."

Game 2 proved to be the turning point in the match. The Wolves led 20-17 thanks to the serving of Nicole Lafita, but allowed the Dreadnaughts to creep back into the game and take a 24-23 edge for game point. Lakeland would reach game point three more times at scores of 25, 26 and 28, but Newsome would not bend. The Wolves scored three consecutive points to win the game and carry the momentum into Game 3.

"I was definitely proud of how they played in games 2 and 3," first-year Newsome coach Kate Correa said.

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