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All for UNO, UNO for all

Card game spawns club that helps unite Mitchell's top hitters.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published October 20, 2005

TRINITY - Mitchell junior hitters Layne Spencer, Heather Zappacosta and Kelli Wiedinger are united by more than a desire to win conference and district championships and make it to the playoffs.

They share another, more unusual, bond.

Along with senior libero Christina DeParis, Spencer, Zappacosta and Wiedinger comprise "The Intense UNO Masters," a club that was formed after a spirited card game the four played during a break in the Orlando Bishop Moore tournament their freshman season.

The past three years, the group has dressed in UNO costumes during "tacky" dress-up day. They use puff paint to decorate shirts with oversized UNO cards on the back, make earrings out of UNO cards and, this year, marched around school with UNO flags.

"We're all very competitive people in volleyball, obviously," Wiedinger said, "but we were playing UNO and getting mad and screaming and throwing things across the room."

Mitchell's three hitters usually are smacking volleyballs across the court. With a combined 636 kills entering tonight's Class 6A, District 7 semifinal against Sickles, Spencer, Wiedinger and Zappacosta have powered the Mustangs to one of the most memorable seasons in school history.

Mitchell (18-7) defeated traditionally strong River Ridge and Hudson on its way to a share of the Sunshine Athletic Conference championship. After a 25-18, 25-22, 25-19 victory over Alonso on Tuesday, the Mustangs are within one win of a playoff berth.

"When we start our season, we've got these three hitters set to bang balls, so our focus throughout always is, "How do we clean up this other little thing to make us better as a team?' " coach Keith Paulk said. "We don't have to struggle like other teams do to create an offense, because it's just here with those three."

How strong is this group? Consider that Wiedinger's older sister, Kari, was a Times' 2004 All-Pasco first team selection after a senior season in which she had 216 kills. Entering tonight's match, Zappacosta already has 245, Kelli Weidinger 216 and Spencer 175.

"Realistically, everyone's not going to be at their best every night," Wiedinger said. "So, if one of us is off, that's okay. We have two other people to go to."

Zappacosta, an outside hitter, packs the most punch. Because she starts up front, it usually doesn't take her long to make a first impression.

"There's definitely an intimidation factor," Wiedinger said. "Heather sometimes will hit harder than pretty much anyone, and when they see that, they're like, "Oh, we're not going to beat this team.' "

Zappacosta made a lasting impression on then-unbeaten River Ridge on Sept. 6, scoring a season-high 18 kills in Mitchell's five-game victory, the Mustangs' second over the Royal Knights in 12 meetings.

Wiedinger, a middle hitter, has fewer kills than Zappacosta but rarely makes a hitting error. Mitchell might not get a kill every time she is set, but it gets an attack an opponent has to return. Her 13 kills led the Mustangs past Land O'Lakes days after the Gators upset Hudson.

When Zappacosta moves off the front line, Spencer replaces her on the outside. Though not as powerful as Zappacosta or accurate as Wiedinger, she has a knack for clutch hits, as evidenced by her team-high 14 kills against Hudson.

"When you go back in the back row, you still feel comfortable that your team up front is going to be able to do it," Zappacosta said. "Sometimes in club (matches), I would be like, "Aw, I wish I was still up front, this is going to cost us.' This team, I don't think any of us ever feel that way."

The best part? The three return next year.

"They're going to be a year older and they always get a year better at this age," Paulk said. "We're having a lot of fun now. We're going to take this run as long as we can get it, but next year everybody better look out, too."

[Last modified October 20, 2005, 01:20:19]