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© St. Petersburg Times, published September 25, 2002
CRYSTAL RIVER -- Crystal River coach Trudee Lightbody has been preaching to her team about starting strong. She couldn't have asked for more Tuesday as it blanked Hernando in the first game en route to a 15-0, 15-11 victory. A sluggish beginning was a factor when the Pirates (5-4) fell to the Leopards (7-2) in two close games two weeks ago. This time, Hernando had trouble getting ready to play.
"They didn't even look like the same team. They played a lot better at their own gym," Lightbody said.
"I was surprised. I thought we were going to have a good game."
Leopards coach Dena Frye, who played at Hernando and Pasco-Hernando Community College, said she had never been shut out in a game until Tuesday. With the Pirates up 3-0, senior Lisandra Vazquez stepped to the service line and reeled off 12 consecutive points. Vazquez sealed the game with her fifth ace. "My shoulder hurts, and I wasn't serving as hard. So I was surprised," said Vazquez, who did not serve during Monday's practice. "I was trying to place them where I saw holes."
Pirates sophomore Amber Clark had four of her five kills during the first game. "(Clark) often starts her approach for a spike too early," Lightbody said. "But when she is patient and waits for the ball, she is a threat at the net. She's coming along real well for her age."
The second game was tied at 8 when Crystal River scored the next six points. The Pirates needed four match points before Jennifer MacRae ended the match with a kill out of the middle.
The 6-foot-1 junior finished with six kills and three aces, and sophomore Ja'Vonna Grimsley contributed three kills.
"We knew we had to play our best because they did beat us and expected to win," said Pirates senior setter Alisa Tisdale, who had a match-high 10 assists.
Hernando's Cristi Brown had two kills and Whitney Griffin had a kill, a block and an ace.
Frye was disappointed with her team's effort.
"We looked like a middle school team. I don't know what the problem was," Frye said. "They'll be practicing before (tonight's match against Pasco)."