Preps

Volleyball: Young Brandon team steps up

By BRYAN BURNS, Times Correspondent
Published October 31, 2007

Class 5A

BRANDON - With the pressure of a winner-take-all Game 5 and a spot in the region semifinals hanging in the balance, Brandon's young team composed itself down the stretch Tuesday to outduel Land O'Lakes for its first regional playoff victory since 1995.

The Eagles (20-3), who start just two seniors, split the first two games with Land O'Lakes before jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the decisive fifth game and holding on to win (20-25, 25-19, 25-21, 10-25, 15-11).

"Like I've told everybody all year, these girls are fighters," Brandon coach Amy Watson said. "And it's amazing because we're so young. This is the most we've ever been pushed in a fifth game all season. Sometimes they surprise themselves. They don't know how good they really are."

The first point of Game 5 was a microcosm of the match. Land O'Lakes (17-11) looked to have an easy point on a service winner, but a Brandon dig at the last second and some mad scrambling swung the point and momentum in favor of the Eagles.

Land O'Lakes started strong, winning eight straight points to erase a 20-17 deficit and win Game 1. After dropping two, the Gators dominated Game 4 25-10 to force the final game.

Brandon, sparked by Alexandra Woodlee's 18 kills and Lindsey Watson's 16 aces, advances to the regional semifinals and will play at River Ridge next Tuesday.

[Last modified October 30, 2007, 23:37:50]