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Zephyrhills stuns district rival Hudson at home
By MIKE CAMUNAS
Published September 12, 2007
HUDSON - No one can remember the last time Zephyrhills beat Hudson. Not even longtime Cobras coach Linda McQuade.
"I don't know," McQuade said. "Maybe '98 or '99."
Well, it happened Tuesday on the Cobras' home turf, as the Bulldogs (6-0) upset their district rival 25-22, 25-22, 25-23.
"This is still kind of sinking in," Zephyrhills coach Tiffany Bibby said. "We've never beaten them since I've been here (four years)."
In Game 1, it seemed defending Class 4A-District 8 champion Hudson would do the usual and dominate, taking a 10-4 lead. Led by senior Laura Metz, who had four aces and eight kills, Hudson (6-1) led until the Bulldogs tied the game at 20.
The Arnold sisters, senior Kristin and sophomore Lindsay, set the tone, helping block most of Metz's shots.
In Game 2, the score was tight as Kristen had three kills and assists. With the Bulldogs up 24-19 in the third game, Hudson made a late rally to make the score 24-23. But senior Jessica McCall hit a match-winning kill on a Cobra serve.
"I don't think we've ever beaten Hudson - in a game," Kristen said. "Maybe we'll be a force, but this is definitely exciting."
McQuade knows the loss was a reality check for her seniors, who made it to the state final four as freshmen in 2004.
"Sometimes you have to remind them, and this game will do that, that you have to keep working," McQuade said. "Or else this is going to be the result every time."
[Last modified September 12, 2007, 01:26:30]
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