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By GREG AUMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 18, 2001
BROOKSVILLE -- Even after her team won the first game 15-1, Hernando coach Dena Frye wasn't about to take crosstown rival Central lightly.
Last year, the Leopards opened with a 15-0 win against the Bears, only to drop the next two games for one of just two regular-season losses. And on Monday, the Bears sprang back to life, winning the second match 15-9, but this time, the Leopards put Central away, winning the deciding game 15-8 for their fifth straight win.
"It was deja vu there for a moment," said Frye, whose team improved to 4-0 against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponents. "I told them (Central coach) Jim Jensen is a very intense coach, and he's going to find a way to get them pumped up."
That intensity was fueled by frustration, enough that even after Central (5-6) won the second game, Jensen barely spoke to his team, walking out of the gym and returning just before play began.
"There was nothing I could say to them," Jensen said. "It's hard to say something nice when you're mad. I guess we just don't want it enough. We'll be lucky to win a few more games if we continue playing like this."
Hernando was led by nine kills from senior Ellen Widboom, who was limited by a rib injury early in the season but was effective from the outside Monday.
"I felt great tonight," Widboom said. "(Setter) Kristi (Langworthy) was awesome. She just gets it right there -- if it wasn't for her, I would never be in this position, and everyone passed the ball well."
Central, which had three kills from Sharesa Scott in the second game, trailed 8-0 in the third and stopped itself with three service errors before pulling to within 12-7. Widboom had a kill and a well-placed dink to set up match point, which Hernando closed out for the victory on a kill by Katie Werner.
Hernando next plays tonight at Ocala West Port, while Central plays host to Citrus on Wednesday.