Crystal River rolls over rival Lecanto

By BRIAN SUMERS
Published September 6, 2006

LECANTO - Crystal River's Danielle Carver executed a jump serve late in the third game Tuesday night. So did Meghan Hirsch.

The Pirates were cruising to their second sweep of Lecanto this season, so they turned a mid-season match into a small serving practice.

Neither player would have tried the serve in a close game, but this was time for experimentation ordered by the coach.

"They put them away," Pirates coach Meryl Weber said. "I was proud."

Except for the first game, when Crystal River needed to win the last five consecutive points to ensure a win, the Pirates 6-1 coasted to a 25-23, 25-15, 25-15 victory.

"It felt good to shut down Lecanto in their own gym," said Carver, who had eight kills. "We knew their crowd would be loud and obnoxious."

Indeed, the Panthers faithful, including many students, quieted after the first game. Before then, they were raucous, perhaps causing the Pirates to make unforced errors.

"I was nervous," Weber said. "But they dug themselves a hole and filled it right up. They did not let up."

For several Pirates seniors, including Brandy Worlton, Ashley Carter, Carver and Hirsch, this was their final regular-season match against rival Lecanto (3-5).

Carter, a four-year varsity player, said she does not recall losing to the Panthers in her career. And she wasn't about to lose Tuesday night.

"Once we zoned everyone out and got a couple of kills, we got going," she said.

[Last modified September 6, 2006, 05:33:42]