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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 27, 2001
NEW PORT RICHEY -- Coach Sam Cibrone has often said that the Pasco-Hernando Community College volleyball team was younger but better than last year's group that placed 11th at nationals.
Judging by last week's results, they're on the same level.
The Conquistadors went 1-2 in the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championships, which resulted in a second straight 11th-place finish.
In its only other national appearance, PHCC placed 15th in 1999.
"I was hoping we'd finish higher than 11th this year," Cibrone said.
"We've still got all of next year, so I'm looking forward to it."
With Cat Cline -- PHCC's leader in the tourney with 24 kills, 31 digs and 5 aces -- as the lone sophomore, Cibrone's lineup for next season will be nearly identical to the current one.
And that, he said, bodes well.
"Our inexperience showed, but now I've got all these girls who know what nationals are about," Cibrone said.
PHCC (30-11) qualified for the national tournament in West Plains, Mo., by being one of two teams to advance from the state tournament, which it has played in for 11 consecutive seasons. The other Florida team, Miami-Dade, won the national title.
PHCC followed up a 30-8, 30-23, 30-12 loss to seventh-ranked Southwest Missouri with a 30-19, 30-27, 20-30, 30-27 win over Wallace State. A 30-21, 30-20, 30-22 loss to Arizona Western eliminated the Conquistadors.
Nicole Cattrysse had 16 kills and 21 digs in the series with Brady Krieg (Ridgewood) adding 14 kills.
Lauren Charles (Sickles) led the team with 53 assists, Kim Yaney (Wharton) added 18 assists, and Brandi Young (River Ridge) and Quinn Davidson each had 23 digs.
FLOREA HONORED: Postseason honors are rolling in for Saint Leo's Cristiana Florea, who has been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association second team and the All-South Region first team.
"Tina has carried our team the past three years," Saint Leo coach Bill Lent said.
"I have felt she has played like an All-American since she arrived here."
A junior outside hitter from Romania, Florea also is an All-Sunshine State Conference first-teamer.
This season, the three-time All-SSC player averaged 3.77 kills, 2.90 digs and a .344 attack percentage.
Teammate Robbie Beach, a setter, was named All-SSC Freshman of the Year. She averaged 9.97 assists and 2.12 digs.
LIONS SWEEP: The Saint Leo men's basketball team (4-0) swept three games last week, defeating Puerto Rico-Cayey 103-50, Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras 73-66 and Nova Southeastern 88-72.
Former PHCC and Pasco High guard Frank Craig led the Lions in scoring in two of those contests. He had 26 points against Puerto Rico-Cayey and 22 against Nova.
Craig averaged 20.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals in the three victories.
John Stolard paced the Lions with 18 points and had nine rebounds in the win over Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. Stolard added 15 points apiece in the other games.
Matt Pruitt averaged 15.6 points a game.
LIONS ON TV: Saint Leo's men's and women's basketball teams will get some TV exposure when their Jan. 26 doubleheader against Barry is taped to be shown later on Sunshine Network.
The games at Saint Leo are scheduled that day with the women tipping off at 2 p.m. and the men at 4.
The tape-delayed televised time has not been announced.