DURANT - The volleyball pipeline from Durant to Georgia State University is serving the college well. The Panthers are 18-4 on the season and off to a 1-0 start in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
The Durant portion of the Georgia State roster reads like this: Senior twins Amanda and Molly Sapp, senior transfer Shelbylynn McBride and freshman Christen Garcia.
Amanda Sapp, a middle blocker, earned the conference player of the week title Sept. 2 and recently recorded her 400th career block, leaving her third all-time in that category at the school. Her sister Molly (outside hitter) also recently had a milestone - her 1,500th career kill. Molly also recently ran off a string of 15 matches with double-digit kills.
McBride, who transferred to Georgia State after four seasons at George Mason University, was named the conference player of the week for Sept. 29 after a 22 kills, 23 dig effort in a Panther win against New Hampshire. An outside hitter, McBride had a 13-match double-digit kill streak earlier this season. A freshman defensive specialist, Garcia has appeared in 17 matches for the Panthers and has recorded 95 digs.
MORE VOLLEYBALL: Durant could have used some of its alumni last weekend at the Berkeley Prep Premier Tournament. The Cougars, last year's Class 5A state champs who now compete at Class 6A, lost twice in the opening round to host Berkeley Prep and Boca Raton Spanish River, the state's top-ranked team in Class 6A. Durant finished the event 0-3, winning just two of 11 games.
In upcoming matches Durant, still ranked sixth in Class 6A, faces district foes Riverview Tuesday and Bloomingdale Thursday on the road. Other matches Tuesday have Brandon at Plant, Bloomingdale at Sarasota, East Bay hosting Hillsborough and Plant City hosting Sarasota Riverview.
CROSS COUNTRY: At the flrunners.com meet Saturday at Ed Radice Park in Odessa, the Armwood boys and the Bloomingdale girls were the only local squads to place in the Invitational race. The Armwood boys placed 28th among 31 teams, led by Ryan Courtoy's time of 18:34. Courtoy placed 122 among 217 runners. Teammates Carlos Corbett (177th at 19:26) and Alex Jones (186th at 19:42) followed.
The Bloomingdale girls fared better, placing 12th among the 31 squads. Jacklyn Johnson led the Bulls with her 14th place run, finishing the 5K course in 20:25. She was followed by Jessica Forrester, who placed 42nd at 21:08, Tiffany Tucker (59th at 21:37) and Heather Hightower, who placed 86th at 22:03.
In the Large School girls race, Armwood freshman Cheryl McBride was 26th at 21:52. Teammate Kethryn Doyle was 83rd at 23:55.
MORE ALUMNI: Former East Bay football player and current Ferris State running back Derek Fudge is closing in on the school's all-time rushing record. After gaining 272 yards in the season opener against Hillsdale College, Fudge's total is 3,395. The record, set by Jesuit grad Mo Harris, is 4,192.
Also, Auburn sophomore walk-on corner back and Tampa Bay Tech graduate Kevin Hobbs has the team's only two interceptions this season. Hobbs picked off one pass in his first career start against Western Kentucky on Sept. 27.
