Sports

Preps

Volleyball: Mustangs make it look easy, even when trailing

By DAVID MURPHY
Published October 17, 2007

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TRINITY - With her team trailing 23-14 in the third game against Land O'Lakes, Alyssa Updegrave walked back to the service line and remembered what Mitchell coach Keith Paulk taught her in middle school.

"He always told me to take a deep breath," the Mustangs libero said.

So she breathed, and served, again, and again, and again.

Twelve consecutive points later, Mitchell finished off an important Sunshine Athletic Conference victory Tuesday, beating the Gators in three games (25-16, 25-21, 25-23) less than a week before the start of district tournament action.

"It feels really cool," said Updegrave, who had two aces during the stretch. "It was really amazing."

Even after Land O'Lakes took a huge lead in the third game, Mitchell seemed destined to win. The Mustangs had easily won the first two games, riding strong hitting of Lea Weber and pinpoint setting of Veronica Harring.

Weber had 10 of her 13 kills in the first two games for the Mustangs, who finished their SAC schedule with just two losses (River Ridge and Hudson).

Land O'Lakes, meanwhile, must find itself before the start of the Class 5A, District 7 tournament at River Ridge next week. The Gators have lost four of their last five matches.

Hudson d. Nature Coast

28-26, 22-25, 19-25, 14-25

Many walked out of the Hudson gymnasium night wondering if this was a sneak peek to a more meaningful match.

If all goes as Hudson and Nature Coast plan, they will meet on this floor next week battling for a state tournament berth and a shot to play for a district title.

That's why Sharks coach Dan Murphy left so frustrated, losing 28-26, 22-25, 19-25, 14-25 and dropping the final three games.

"We wanted to win it because it could set the tone for next week. But my girls weren't ready," Murphy said. "They just didn't seem like they cared. They weren't up to the game.

"We play like this next week, we'll make a very early exit."

The Sharks (17-5-1, 7-1) played solid in Game 1, playing nip-tuck with Hudson (18-5-1, 6-2). They fought off two match points and endured 11 lead changes before taking a one-game lead. Nature Coast got strong play from Alex Livengood (18 kills) and Kayla Bailey (12 kills), but Murphy said he felt support players needed to exert more effort.

Meanwhile, Hudson coach Linda McQuade seemed content as the Cobras grinded out the final three games, including a three-point win in Game 2, which they led by as many as four. The Cobras leaned on Lara Metz (12 kills), Paige Lake (nine kills) and Jessica Christianson (12 digs) to help cruise in Games 3 and 4 when Hudson trailed by no more than one point in each game.

"It took a little while to warm up tonight," McQuade said. "This time of year you need a lot of hitters. I feel if we play our best we're going to do a great job. We're not going to win with three players on and three off. We need all six."

Times staff writer Izzy Gould contributed to this report.

[Last modified October 17, 2007, 00:16:49]