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Tampa Prep heads to Lakeland

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By JARRETT GUTHRIE

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 15, 2009

TAMPA - Tampa Prep defeated Northside Christian for the second straight season to advance to the state final four, winning the Class 2A-Region 3 final 25-18, 25-22, 25-16.

Prior to Saturday's final, assistant coach Jessica Lamm gave the Terrapins instructions on how to be successful against Northside. According to junior Ericka McGriff, the notes were simple - be confident in themselves and their teammates.

The Terrapins responded and squashed a would-be Mustangs rally in the second game to earn the region title and a spot in this week's state tournament in Lakeland.

"We just had more confidence in our team," McGriff said. "I think we outplayed them with confidence and were ready to beat them."

McGriff, along with senior Latora Lofgren, junior Savannah Cantrell and senior Megan Aschenbrenner, controlled the net and worked for every point.

The Terrapins sealed the first game with two straight McGriff aces.

The second game saw much of the same early as the Terrapins stretched to a 10-point lead before Northside rallied to tie at 19, taking advantage of some net errors and long serves by Tampa Prep. However, Tampa Prep was able to take three straight points at the end for the game.

"We've been big on confidence lately," Lamm said. "We don't mind aggressive errors; you have to just let those roll off and they did and that was the big difference for us."

The match's final game was highlighted by a nine-point run by the Terrapins, including an ace from sophomore Nikki Cardoso.

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