TAMPA - Berkeley Prep coach Randy Dagostino called the 11th-year Berkeley PremierVolleyball Tournament by far the most competitive yet.
If Durant finishing in last was any indication, he's probably right.
The funny thing about the event, though, is that the teams are so close in comparison no one could have predicted anyone's placement.
In Tampa Prep's Tampa Bay Invitational next weekend, when a lot of the same squads show up, Durant could finish in the top four.
As it turned out this weekend, Gainesville and Berkeley Prep battled for the championship. It stretched to five long games, and the Hurricanes came out ahead 19-25, 20-25, 25-18, 25-16, 15-8.
"We are thrilled at how far we came, but we are disappointed in the way we lost," Dagostino said. "It tarnished how we played, which was incredible."
The runner-up performance was a sizeable feat and a step up from last year's third-place showing for the Bucs, who lost to Tampa Prep last month and entered the event ranked sixth in Class 2A.
For third, Plant defeated Pittsburgh Baldwin (Pa.) 25-20, 26-24, 25-20, getting its biggest boost from dominant middle blockers Claire Crumpton and Lauren Taylor.
Plant outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood met her match with Baldwin hitter Diana Andreyko, who played for the national team in her native Ukraine at age 12 before coming to the United States.
"It was sort of a battle between those two, and it was neat to watch," Baldwin coach Lynda Scahill said.
"Plant is such a strong team, and I'm really proud of the way my girls played here."
Boca Raton Olympic Heights, which won the tourney the past two years, finished in eighth place.
Tampa Prep was 10th after beating Huntsville Grissom (Ala.) in four games and losing to Huntsville (Ala.) in five.
"We were not real happy overall," Tampa Prep coach Paul McAdoo said. "But we're hoping to learn from our mistakes and hopefully have a better showing next weekend."
Durant was defeated in four games by Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest, which also defeated Plant in earlier pool play.
"This is a unique year because there is never a guarantee who will beat who," Plant's Kirkwood said.
"If you don't show up at any given match, you will get beat. I would be surprised if the same people end up in the top four placement next weekend."
ACADEMY WINS CLASSIC: In the Academy of the Holy Names Classic, Academy (15-2) defeated Lakeland 25-17, 25-15 in the final.
Out of seven teams, the Jaguars were the most dominant. But Academy coach Doug Chinchar said it was a competitive mix of squads.
"We were head and shoulders better than the other teams, but it was a good second year for the tournament," Chinchar said.
"We're trying to start our own tradition."
The Jaguars beat Tampa Catholic 25-6, 25-19 in a semifinal. In the other semifinal, Lakeland (14-2) defeated Brandon 25-9, 25-13.
"Lakeland was a tough team, and we expected a lot from them," Chinchar said. "I think the coach kind of psyched them out a little."
