Prep Notebook: Tampa Prep, Durant volleyball coaches resign

Two of the top volleyball programs in the Tampa area will have to search for coaching replacements.

Mike Flynn will step down as coach at Tampa Prep to fulfill his duties as new director of athletics. Jeff Davis has resigned as coach at Durant to accept the same position at the Academy of Holy Names.

During his seven seasons as coach, Flynn guided Tampa Prep to a state title in 2004 and to the state final four from 2008-10. The Terrapins were the Class 2A state runner-up in 2009 and lost in the state semifinals last November. Flynn has been the assistant athletic director since 2003 and interim director since November 2009. He will replace former volleyball coach Carol Chalu, who served as athletic director at Tampa Prep for more than 30 years.

This past season, Davis guided the Cougars to within one match of the state final four, but the Cougars fell to Lakeland in the Class 5A region final, 3-0, and finished the season 16-7.

Davis replaces Kevin Reynolds, who led Holy Names to a 16-8 record last season before falling to Clearwater Central Catholic in the Class 3A-District 10 tournament semifinals.

Football

Robinson quarterback Blake Rice enjoyed his visit to Elon University so much this past weekend, he verbally committed, Knights assistant coach Shawn Taylor said. Elon was the first to offer Rice a scholarship and Taylor said the Division I-AA program is a "great fit" for the versatile athlete.

Last season, Rice led the Knights with 1,430 passing yards and 21 touchdowns. He also rushed for 257 yards and one touchdown.

•Standout fullback Hunter Joyer, who last year committed to Florida, has left Tampa Catholic and returned to Wesley Chapel High.

Jack Joyer said his son's departure from TC was for family, financial and logistical reasons. He said their Pasco County home is a five-minute drive to Wesley Chapel High, where Hunter attended school his freshman and sophomore years.

The question now is whether Hunter can become eligible for the coming track and weightlifting seasons. Hunter won a state shot put title last spring for TC and hopes to win that and a discus crown this spring. He is also shooting for his first state weightlifting championship.

Jack Joyer said the necessary paperwork to apply for eligibility in each sport already has been filed with the Florida High School Athletics Association.

•King wide receiver Reese Sturgis will join Lions teammate Michael Moore at college.

A couple of days after Moore verbally committed to Stillman, Sturgis did the same. Both players will join the Division II program in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Last season, Sturgis led King with 39 receptions for 517 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, Sturgis had 22 tackles and one interception.

Softball

Strawberry Crest ushered in its first group of college-bound athletes Monday with the signing of four softball players: infielder/catcher Amada Polk (Polk State College), infielder/outfielder Michelle Devera (Hillsborough Community College), outfielder Maria Garcia (Pasco-Hernando Community College) and catcher Phoebe Ellington (Brevard Community College).

Baseball

Bishop McLaughlin sophomore middle infielder Dre Leal verbally committed to the University of South Florida.

As a freshman, Leal was a starting middle infielder and backup catcher for the Hurricanes (20-10), who advanced to the Class 2A region finals.

Nick Williams, Katherine Smith, Bill Ward, Rick Harmon