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LOL primed for postseason

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By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: October 22, 2009

Considering the way the season started for Land O' Lakes, things could have gone terribly awry.

Thing weren't clicking and Coach Michelle Griffin had to constantly tinker with her lineup. Making matters worse, the Gators were facing their stiffest competition.

"That first couple of games was really trying to fit the puzzle pieces together," Griffin said. "Once we kind of had positions established, the girls were really able to take control and get used to each other."

After dropping five of their first seven matches and following a couple of "heart-to-heart" conversations, the team went on a roll. The Gators went on a six-match tear, in the process bringing their record above .500.

Land O' Lakes (10-7) will end the regular season tonight when it travels to Brooksville Central. As for the district tournament, which begins next week at Zephyrhills, Griffin believes her team can do well.

"This year, it's 'What team am I bringing tonight?' We'll have games where I bring my team and they're just amazing and I think they could go all the way," Griffin said. "Then on other nights we don't show up for the game, but honestly I think if I bring my A team, I think we have the possibility of at least making it to regional."

Thus far, OH Jessica Johnson has led the team in kills and aces. Also pacing the team is S Teresa Dellapenna, OH Morgan Crescent and L Helen Marte.

Eye to the future

Doug Chinchar and his wife Sarah were comfortably settling in to volleyball retirement. The only thing they did when it came to volleyball was with their club team, but as far as high school was concerned, they were done.

That was until Bishop McLaughlin president Sarah Regan gave them a call.

Why call the Chinchars, who built the program at Academy of the Holy Names? For exactly that reason. Regan was the principal at AHN from 2000 to 2007 and saw the work the pair did for the Jaguars.

"Sarah Regan is the big reason we are there," Doug Chinchar said. "She called us up and said, 'Remember how we were at Academy and we built that? Do you want to start from scratch and do it again?'"

The big difference is AHN also had grades K-12, while Bishop McLaughlin is solely a high school. Children were exposed to the Chinchars at a very young age and knew what to expect. Now, instead of having access to a wide ranging group of athletes on campus, that training ground is going to have to expand throughout the Spring Hill community.

"We've got to make sure people know that Doug and Sarah are there with our backgrounds and we're going to teach people how to play volleyball," Doug Chinchar said. "We're going to make a big push this winter and spring to go out and make sure all the schools in our area know we're here."

That begins with running free camps and tournaments.

For now, this season has been a true learning season for both the players as well as the Chinchars. They're having to solidify the will to fight in players and get them to contest every point. That, he says, will also spill into life and the classroom.

"At this point at Bishop McLaughlin, it's not all about volleyball," Doug Chinchar said. "It's setting a tone. Here's how things are done no matter if we're playing a flute, no matter if we're in a math class, whether we're singing or playing volleyball. We're doing it the best we can the whole, entire time.

"If we can get that across, which is starting to come across, no matter what happens it's going to be a successful four years for them at Bishop McLaughlin."

Game of momentum

It was the hope of the Academy at the Lakes squad to earn a No. 4 seeding in next week's Class 1A-District 9 tournament, which they'll host. But the Wildcats will have to settle for the fifth seed.

The good part is there are three other teams (Berean Academy No. 6, Carrollwood Day No. 7, and Tampa Bay Christian No. 8) behind them. Plus, that opening match against Lakeside Christian can be won.

"We'll play a team I think we can beat," Academy coach Rick Jennings said. "So if we get past them, we'll face Canterbury, which is a tough one."

The team (7-7 before Wednesday night's match against Sunlake) will host Oldsmar Christian tonight bringing the regular season to a close. As with most coaches, Jennings is of the belief entering the district tournament on a winning note can be helpful.

"That's a huge advantage," Jennings said. "When they come off a loss, they're younger so they take it a little bit harder. With a win, that's momentum and volleyball is a game of momentum."

The Volleyball Notebook will run every Thursday in the Pasco Tribune. Coaches who want to add their team's information can submit their entries to Eddie Daniels by calling (813) 259-7066 or e-mailing edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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