December 6, 2006

North fall to South All-Stars in volleyball

PAUL KANTZ
FOR FLORIDA TODAY

 

South All-Star Josie Ratliff, left, looks to block a re­turn shot by the North�s Jessica Quinn in the Space Coast Series All-Star volleyball match at Merritt Island High School last Saturday. Paul Kantz, for FLORIDA TODAY

Led by most valuable player Jessica Quinn of Merritt Island Christian School, the North All-Star team pushed the South to the limit in the Space Coast Series All-Star prep volleyball match last Saturday at Merritt Island High School.

The North won the first two games, 25-21 and 25-14, before falling in the next three, 25-19, 25-13, and 15-12.

The match showcased more than two dozen of the county�s top high school players, all seniors.

Despite lacking the size of a South squad that featured six-foot, 2-inch Amanda Graham of Eau Gallie High School and Catie Nunez, 6-1, of Melbourne High, the North used enthusiasm, teamwork and communication to hold its own.

�Jessica Quinn was a great leader out there,� North coach Angie Patrick said. �She played with a lot of fire and enthusiasm.�

Patrick is head coach at Merritt Island High School.

Quinn led the North with 13 assists, and contributed six digs and two aces.

Quinn�s Merritt Island Christian School teammate Amanda Weekley, a six-footer herself, turned in team-highs in kills (11) and blocks (3).

Losing the match did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the 16 players on the North roster.

�It was really fun, and the team came together really well,� Yoonie Tse of Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High said.

�Life is good.�

Tse, playing libero, led the North with 11 digs.

�No matter what, win or lose, being selected is definitely an honor,� added Allison Zittel Space Coast Junior/Senior High.

Said Frankie Kirk, also of Space Coast: �Space Coast is a new school, it isn�t really known, so it�s an honor to get our name up there and represent the school.�

Also playing for the North were Katie Murphy of Cocoa Beach, Carrie Cornelius of Cocoa, Bryn Hafer of Merritt Island Christian, Briana Ballard of Rockledge, Christina Campbell of Astronaut, Peggy Compton and Sarah Maynard of Temple Christian, and Jaimie Dembowski, Alissa Mandernack, and Laura Diesel of Titusville. Brittany Lamarca of Merritt Island was named to the team but did not attend.

�They are a great group of girls,� coach Patrick said. �They worked hard in practice together, and you could tell that they all love volleyball very much. I enjoyed coaching them.�

Graham of Eau Gallie garnered Most Valuable Player honors for the South.

Proceeds from the game benefited Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida.