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Preps
'Canes dig deep, turn back Warhawks
By ERIC MUSKATEVC
Published September 14, 2005
SEMINOLE - If mental toughness is what Palm Harbor University coach Tara Burton says her team lacked in a four-game win over Seminole on Tuesday night, then the Hurricanes made up for it with raw talent.
"If we want to be successful, we can't play like we did (Tuesday) ever again," said Burton, who described herself as "livid," despite the 'Canes undefeated season. "We'll have to see at (today's) practice if I know how to teach mental toughness. I'm not sure how."
PHU, though unorganized from the start, won the first game 25-18 through powerful hitting and regrouped in Game 2, winning 25-16. Lyndsey Childress served three aces in the first two games and led the match with 24 service points.
At the break, Seminole coach Fran Fryer pulled her team into the locker room and talked about momentum, which quickly went the Warhawks' way in Game 3.
Down 5-0 to start its serve, Seminole attacked often and, with help from eight straight service points from Nadine Grant, took the lead 14-13, winning 25-19.
"We talked about finding their hitters and attacking. We weren't going to do much without attacking them," Fryer said.
Game 4 see-sawed until Sydney Miller won eight straight serves for PHU (8-0), with back-to-back-to-back assists on kills by Christine Tan (game-leading 12 kills) and Brittany Moore. PHU won the final game 25-13. Miller had 33 assists. Grant led Seminole (12-8) with eight digs.
TAMPA PREP 3, INDIAN ROCKS CHRISTIAN 0: Rachael Phillips had 13 kills as the visiting Terrapins (6-2) swept the Golden Eagles 25-6, 25-11 and 25-21. Tampa Prep's Sam McAvoy had eight aces and Nicole Watkins tallied 10 digs.
CANTERBURY 3, TEMPLE HEIGHTS 0: The host Crusaders (7-3) snapped a three-match skid, defeating the Eagles 25-7, 25-22 and 25-20. After starting the season 6-0, Canterbury lost to district rivals Bayshore Christian, Cambridge and Seffner Christian before ending the skid Tuesday.
"Those are probably the three toughest teams in the district and we struggled a bit against them," coach Dave Smith said.
The Crusaders offense was led by Nora Brody (15 kills) and Laura Winkler (12). Canterbury's Haley Hall finished with seven aces. Canterbury faces neighborhood rival Shorecrest tonight.
CLEARWATER 3, PINELLAS PARK 0: The host Tornadoes improved to 9-1 after defeating the Patriots 25-9, 25-20 and 25-18. Kristin Fisher was the main beneficiary of Channing Salava's 22 assists, recording a team-high 11 kills. Clearwater's Britt Hegh had a team-best nine digs.
Sandra Kellar and Jalisa Foster, who returned to action last weekend in the Keswick Invitational after missing two weeks with a ankle injury, combined for all 11 of Pinellas Park's blocks. The pair also finished with three kills each.
COUNTRYSIDE 3, MITCHELL 1: Madison Truluck's 15 kills led the host Cougars (6-3) to a 25-12, 25-15, 13-25, 25-20 victory.
"I think we got a little complacent in Game 3 and they caught us on our heels," Countryside coach Kaylyn Bayly said. "We beat them pretty handily in the first two games and we lost the momentum in Game 3, but regained our focus to close them out."
EAST LAKE 3, LARGO 0: The host Eagles swept the Packers 25-15, 25-15 and 26-24. Kayla Radics finished with team highs in digs (16) and kills (8). Lindsey Opperman had 14 digs, seven kills and led East Lake (7-4) with three aces. The Eagles' Sara Rex added six kills and four blocks.
East Lake placed third this past weekend at P.K. Yonge Tournament in Gainesville.
LAKEWOOD 3, BOCA CIEGA 1: The Spartans (8-3) racked up 29 aces and defeated the host Pirates (2-3) 25-13, 25-18, 21-25 and 25-21. Freshmen Evan Ligon and Taylor Whaley led Lakewood with six kills each and Gina Hedrick finished with five.
Lakewood, playing without injured libero Zahida Cesko, lost Melody Greene to a sprained left ankle. Coach Donna Dicus said she expects Cesko, who hasn't played in two weeks, to be available later this week while Greene likely won't be ready until Monday against district and conference rival Northeast.
Boca Ciega also was playing shorthanded after losing senior setter Morgan Hughart to a broken ankle in warmups last week against Northeast.
[Last modified September 14, 2005, 09:26:43]
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