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The Bucs drop the first two games before stealing the momentum and the match.
By SCOTT PURKS
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 26, 2001
TAMPA -- There didn't seem to be much doubt. Tampa Prep, which led two games to none in the best-of-five match, was going to beat Berkeley Prep.
The Terps had Justeen Patton setting Amber Langston and just about every other teammate for kills. They were playing solid defense, they were serving well. The momentum, in short, was on their side in a big way.
Then came Game 3, when the momentum swung.
"Despite losing those first two games, we were still confident," Berkeley Prep coach Randy Dagostino said. "We felt like we had an advantage in just about every rally in those first games.
"Of course we didn't win every rally, but we knew we had a chance to win just about every one. All the girls agreed that this was the case."
The Bucs (9-0), who lost the first two games 15-12, 15-12, backed up their feelings, winning the third game 15-2 then going on to close out the match 15-10 in the fourth and 15-12 in a rally-points fifth.
"I definitely thought we were the more composed team tonight," Dagostino said. "Maybe it was the home court, or the crowd (standing room only), or something. But for whatever reason we just seemed to feel that this was our night."
Tampa Prep coach Paul McAdoo said Berkeley simply converted more key plays, particularly in the fourth and fifth games.
"(Berkeley) kept the momentum going their way," McAdoo said. "I've always said when teams are equally matched in talent, then momentum and teamwork will determine the winner.
"Tonight Berkeley kept the momentum and played well as a team."
Down the stretch, Berkeley was extremely resilient at the net, blocking Langston's attack time and again.
"I don't know if it was more our girls making adjustments to (Langston's) hitting, or if she was getting a little fatigued at the end," Dagostino said.
"The fact is, we really had our block going from the third game on."
Dagostino also pointed out that Tampa Prep's serve-receive struggled, something with which McAdoo agreed.
"When you're not passing the ball very well, the set usually isn't going to be as good, and your offense is going to struggle," he said.
"It's easier to block when the other team's offense is struggling."
Tampa Prep dropped to 9-1, but will get at least two more cracks at the crosstown rival Bucs this season.