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Colleges

PHCC clinches national spot, closes in on Miami-Dade's level

By Times Staff
Published November 8, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - The Pasco-Hernando Community College volleyball team split two regular-season matches with Suncoast Conference rival St. Petersburg College.

It was a different story in last week's Florida Community College Activities Association state tournament.

The Conquistadors won both meetings between the teams that finished with 8-2 conference marks. PHCC defeated St. Petersburg 3-1 twice, the second time for the Gulf District title.

PHCC (30-9) advanced to the state final before losing 3-0 to eight-time national champion Miami-Dade. Both teams qualified for nationals, Nov.21-23 in West Plains, Mo.

"It was a big deal for us," PHCC coach Kim Whitney said of winning the district and earning a seventh straight state berth. "That was our goal this year."

Another goal was putting up a better fight against Miami-Dade. For the first time in school history, PHCC won a game against Miami-Dade in the regular season. And the Conquistadors had their closest playoff meeting against the Sharks, losing the final 30-28, 30-26, 30-14.

"We got a little bit closer," Whitney said. "I think we're getting to the point here where we're getting a little bit better and able to compete with them."

Two PHCC sophomores, setter Beth Slabaugh and outside hitter Paige Ely , made the all-state tournament team.

For the season, Slabaugh has 506 kills in 1,298 hitting attempts and 61 bocks. Ely has 57 aces and 321 kills.

RECORD YEAR: The Saint Leo men's soccer team can claim the the school's first Sunshine State Conference title in any sport since the school joined the league as a charter member in 1975.

The Lions, which entered last week with at least a share of the conference crown, won it outright after runnerup Lynn lost 3-2 to Barry on Saturday.

It gets better for the Lions.

Coach Joel Harrison received word Monday from the NCAA selection committee that his team would host a Division II South Region. Saint Leo, the top seed, plays in the final at 1 p.m. Sunday against the winner of Friday's 1 p.m. match, No.8-ranked Lynn vs. No.16 Central Arkansas.

"I knew we were in (the playoffs). It was a matter of whether we were hosting or not," Harrison said.

The South Region winner hosts a Southeast Region quarterfinal on Nov.20.

Saint Leo (15-1, 7-1 SSC) has set school records for wins and consecutive victories (10). The Lions have not played Central Florida and defeated Lynn 2-1 in double-overtime this season.

Saint Leo forward Asmir Pervan , a junior, leads the team with 22 goals and 51 points. Senior goalkeeper Matias Perez leads the conference in goals-against average (0.67) and shutouts (five).

UNBEATEN: The PHCC men's basketball team tries to improve to 4-0 tonight at home against Central Florida. The Conquistadors host Wayne County (Mich.) Thursday and a club team from MacDill Air Force Base Saturday. All three games this week are at 7:30 p.m. and admission is free.

[Last modified November 8, 2005, 02:15:36]