Preps

Volleyball: State semifinals

By JOE SMITH
Published November 14, 2007

All matches at the Lakeland Center

Class 5A

Plant (28-1) vs.Lake Howell (28-2)

When: 8 p.m., today

Outlook: The nationally ranked Panthers are one of the state's hottest teams, winners of 20 straight, including an emotional, come-from-behind region final win over rival Venice. To defend its state title, Plant must hold off a Lake Howell team in its third straight final four. The key will be how the Panthers contain Lake Howell's standout - 6-foot-3 junior middle Correy Johnson.

Up next: Final, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Class 3A

Berkeley Prep (24-7) vs.Lake Highland Prep (22-7)

When:Noon, today

Outlook: This showdown is a rematch of the past two 3A state championship matches, both Lake Highland Prep victories. But in their latest match, played in September, the Bucs took Lake Highland Prep to the brink, taking a 2-1 lead before falling in five. Expect this one to go the distance as well, with the Bucs' three-headed hitting combo of Lindsay Young, Alex Dickerson and Chelsea Parker keeping it close.

Up next: Final, Thursday, 4:30 p.m.

Class A

Bayshore Christian (26-5) vs. Merritt Island Christian (27-2)

When: 10 a.m., today

Outlook: In three playoff matches, Bayshore Christian has dropped only one game. The Faith Warriors are tough to defend because they have numerous offensive options. Besides Jannica Mollett, setter Ashlea Ballengee can go to Gabby Fernandez or Sami Stokes.

Up next: Final, Thursday, 2 p.m.

Class 6A

Durant (20-6) vs. Jupiter (23-7)

When: 8 p.m., Friday

Outlook: Durant is peaking at the right time. In recent wins, the Cougars offense has clicked behind the setting of Alexa Donini and finishing ability of net standouts Aly Anzalone, Stephanie Eukovich, Kelsey Horton and Chelsea Morris.

Up next: Final, Saturday, 7 p.m.

Things you should know

- Berkeley Prep coach Randy Dagostino has compared sophomore hitter Lindsay Young to Merran Miller (Georgia Tech), one of his "most complete players ever."

- Bayshore Christian's Mollett and Durant's Eukovich are friends. They've competed with - and against - each other since they were 11.

- One of Plant's impact middles is a former Buc; junior Jordan Dickie transferred from Berkeley Prep after last season.

- Durant coach Dawn Hough knows Jeff Reavis, coach at Gainesville Buchholz (a team Durant could face in the final), well. He was her Junior Olympics coach when she was in high school.

- Among them, Bayshore Christian (three), Berkeley Prep (12), Durant (three) and Plant (six) have 24 state titles.

- Plant junior Ariel Ley, a right-side hitter, plays the violin. She missed all of last year with a stress fracture in her foot.

- When Durant starter Lindi Oest was younger, she attended Cougars matches at the time Hough was a standout middle blocker. Back then, Oest's father was Durant athletic director.

- Berkeley Prep's lone senior, Danielle Michiels, is arguably the Bucs' most versatile player; she can play setter, outside and libero.

- Durant's Horton also is a standout softball player. She's considered a likely Division I-A recruit.

Compiled by Times staff writers Joe Smith and Keith Niebuhr.

[Last modified November 13, 2007, 21:27:22]