Invitational nothing but beneficial

By JARRETT GUTHRIE and ROD GIPSON
Published September 12, 2006

TAMPA - Eight teams will converge upon the Academy of the Holy Names campus this weekend for the seventh annual AHN Varsity Volleyball Invitational, to be held Friday and Saturday.

The teams will be split into two pools. Pool A will consist of Orlando Edgewater, Tampa Catholic, Sickles and Cambridge. Pool B will feature Land O'Lakes, Wesley Chapel and Boca Raton Christian.

The host school is undefeated in five matches entering tonight's contest against Clearwater Central Catholic. Edgewater received votes last week from the Florida Sports Writers Association in Class 6A, but was not ranked in the top 10. All matches are best two of three, with the third game going to 15. The tournament begins Friday at 4 p.m.

"Getting teams to come to an invitational tournament is hard," AHN coach Doug Chinchar said. "But scheduling and playing in tournaments allows us the flexibility to schedule better opponents more easily during the week.

"We get a lot of games in a tournament and can have more chances to make a better schedule during the week."

SPECIAL THANKS: Before Friday's Berkeley Prep-Tampa Prep match, Berkeley coach Randy Dagostino addressed the raucous, standing-room only crowd, thanking the students, parents and fans of the rivalry for creating what he called "the best volleyball in the state over the past 23 years."

Berkeley won the latest renewal of the rivalry in five games. The teams have combined for 27 state titles, with the Terrapins winning 15.

Both schools also rank among the top five in the state in consecutive state championships won (six); state tournament matches played (87 for Tampa Prep, 75 for Berkeley) and tournament matches won (79 for the Terrapins, 68 for the Bucs).

TIRELESS TERP: Tampa Prep senior setter Kwynn Kirkhuff was busy during her team's 25-22, 19-25, 27-25, 19-25, 10-15 loss to Berkeley Prep. Kirkhuff led the Terrapins with 14 assists to go with eight kills, five blocks and five service aces.

Kirkhuff amassed the stats despite missing key moments of the final game when she was injured on a dig attempt. She later returned.

TOURNEY TIME: While AHN hosts its annual eight-team affair, Bayshore Christian and Berkeley Prep will compete in tournaments elsewhere.

The Faith Warriors will play in the 23rd annual Keswick Invitational in St. Petersburg, facing CCC in their first match Thursday at 8 p.m.

Berkeley travels to Gainesville the following day to play in the two-day Buchholz Tournament.

[Last modified September 12, 2006, 00:41:58]