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Volleyball: Gaither finally gets new trophy to put in its case

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By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: October 4, 2009

TAMPA - It has been more than a decade since the Gaither volleyball program won a tournament.

After going 3-0 to win the Bayshore Christian Invitational on Saturday, the Cowboys finally will add another trophy to the case in their gym.

Middle hitter Jenna Clark, a 6-foot-2 senior, proved to be too much for Naples Seacrest Country Day in the championship. She led Gaither (7-3) with six blocks, four kills and three aces in the 25-19, 25-17 victory.

"It makes me feel great about who we are and who we can beat, because they were a good team," Clark said.

Gaither outside hitter Laura Ackhart added nine kills, while middle blocker Chloe New finished with four blocks.

Bayshore Christian finished fourth, Wharton took fifth and Freedom was sixth in the seven-team tournament.

Meanwhile, Plant, ranked 29th in the latest ESPN Fab 50 poll, went 4-1 to finish third at the Asics Challenge national tournament in Chicago.

The Panthers (17-1) finished first in their pool on Friday to advance to the gold bracket. On Saturday, Plant beat No. 21 nationally-ranked Sacred Heart, 25-13, 27-15, in the quarterfinals, then lost to the No. 2 team in the nation, Chicago Joliet Catholic, 25-23, 25-27, 21-25. Leading the attack for the Panthers were junior Alex Johnson (18 kills) and senior Maddie Martin (15 kills, 16 digs).

Plant defeated No. 41 Carl Sandburg in the third-place match, 25-16, 25-13.

TAMPA INVITATIONAL: The 25th annual Tampa Bay Invitational, hosted by Tampa Prep, will be held at the University of Tampa's Martinez Complex on Friday and Saturday.

Area teams include Berkeley Prep, Brandon, Durant, Newsome and Tampa Prep.

Pool play begins Friday at 3 p.m., and first-place teams square off at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The championship match is Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

GOING PINK: Breast Cancer Awareness will be on display at a few volleyball matches this week.

Academy of the Holy Names is holding its third annual Play for the Cure Breast Cancer Awareness Night, a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The event features a volleyball match against rival Tampa Catholic at 6 p.m. on Friday at Holy Names,

On the first day of matches at the Tampa Bay Invitational on Friday, parents, players and coaches will support Dig Pink Day by wearing pink.

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851.

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