Coach Jim Jensen discussed offensive and defensive strategy before Central's Oct. 13 match against Hernando. He talked about the importance of staying focused on the court.
But he didn't say a word to players about mental preparation.
He didn't need to.
"I think everybody's concentration is a notch higher because of who you're playing," Jensen said.
Playing with an intensity that was missing in an opening-week loss at Hernando, Central won 25-19, 26-24, 21-25, 25-19 to put itself in the middle of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championship race.
The Bears, who completed conference play with a 10-2 record, could finish in a tie for first with Crystal River (8-1) and Hernando (7-2) if the Leopards beat the Pirates Thursday.
Hernando has conference matches remaining against Springstead on Monday and Citrus on Wednesday.
If Crystal River wins its remaining GCAC matches, it wins the conference crown outright.
"We're in the clubhouse," Jensen said. "But we've got somebody close behind us that's still out there."
Central, the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Class 4A, District 9 tournament, put itself in contention for the conference championship with one of its most complete performances of the season.
With a raucous home crowd behind them, the aggressive Bears outserved, outpassed and outhit the shorter Leopards, who struggled with serving and receiving.
With help from setter Noemi Rivera, who had 25 assists, Erica Livengood (10), Sara Tooman (8) and Nikki Weaver (7) combined for 25 kills.
Tooman added four blocks in what Jensen called "her best match of the year." Livengood contributed two, and Julie Schneidmiller had seven digs.
"When we play well, it's because we came to the gym with a full mental approach: "We're here to take care of business,' " Jensen said.
Hernando coach Dena Frye said her players, who have had problems communicating with each other, had trouble hearing in the loud gym.
"We were talking out there," Frye said. "I saw mouths moving, but I don't know if anything was coming out of their mouths."
Hernando also lacked the height up front to contend with Central's hitters. The Leopards added to their problems by missing 11 serves, matching their total for the season.
"They had just as many aces on us as we had missed serves," Frye said, "and we're hardly ever aced."
SAVVY SCHEDULING: Frye entered Hernando in the Crystal River tournament and purposely scheduled games against Central and Crystal River near the end of the season to prepare her team for district and regional play.
After exiting in the first round the past two seasons, the Leopards (16-3) enter next week's Class 3A, District 6 tournament as the No. 1 seed.
"Those are the teams we play past districts," Frye said. "We're hoping to win districts and go on. You've got to kind of get them ready to play at the next level, because they're so used to playing the same teams again and again.
"Every time we get past districts, we clam up because we're not used to playing teams we don't normally play."
