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Plant back in state final 4

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By JEFF BERLINICKE

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 15, 2009

TAMPA - Ali McCurdy isn't used to ending her season without a state championship.

The Plant senior, who will announce her commitment to play volleyball at Duke University on Monday, had 15 digs as Plant defeated Orlando Dr. Phillips 25-8, 25-19, 25-13 in the Class 6A-Region 3 final Saturday. The Panthers have won three straight state championships and McCurdy has been part of all three. She said she is getting used to the trip to Lakeland this time of the year.

"We expect to get there," McCurdy said. "We have a strong game and it's not like we haven't been to the playoffs before. We've won every year since I've been here, so we're kind of used to it."

Plant (27-1) dominated Dr. Phillips (27-3) from the start, scoring the first seven points in the match, led by the front line power of Alex Johnson, Tina Catanach, Leah Jordan and Maddie Martin. Plant led off each of the three games with leads and Coach Leanna Taylor said that was the strategy going in.

"I knew we could win if we started strong and got a lot of blocks," Taylor said. "I knew we were ready and we needed to be because Dr. Phillips is a good team. We got the blocks and Ali is a great athlete and it went our way, but we aren't taking anything for granted next week."

"We have been there (state), we know what to expect and we know that it won't be easy," McCurdy said. "But when we get there, we'll be ready just like always."

Martin led Plant with 21 kills and Johnson added 18. Becca Howard had 40 assists to lead Plant.

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