LAKELAND | In her 24 years as head coach, Debbie Wingard has never won a state title. The closest was last year when South Daytona Warner Christian finished state runner-up to Tampa Bayshore.
She has one more chance
Wingard, who is handing over the reins of her team to assistant coach Vanessa Tress after this season, has her team back in the state championship game. Her Eagles defeated Merritt Island Christian, 25-19, 21-25, 25-11, 25-14, Friday morning in the semifinals of the 2008 FHSAA Class 1A Girls Volleyball Finals at The Lakeland Center.
Warner Christian (29-1) will play Lake Worth Christian in the championship match noon today. Lake Worth Christian defeated Bradenton Christian, 24-26, 25-27, 25-20, 25-21.
Seniors Sarah Garner and Jordan Holcomb led the Eagles in kills with 13 and 11 respectively and also had 18 and 16 digs. Garner added six ace serves. But it was the addition of eighth-grader
Alicia Lewis that has made a big impact. The 13-year-old libero finished with 21 digs.
The Eagles' Taylor Wakeman had eight kills and 17 digs, and Katie Lydstrom had 35 assists and 16 digs.
Stephanie Quinn led Merritt Island Christian (24-7) with 13 kills, 26 digs and 11 assists, and Kacie Paulk had seven kills and 15 assists. Haleigh Campbell had 35 digs.
In the other 1A semifinal match, Lake Worth Christian took control of the match in the third game. The teams split the first two games, and Bradenton Christian led, 16-10, in the third game. But the Defenders rallied back.
Sophomore middle hitter Brytney Annis provided Lake Worth Christian with a spark in the third game. She had five kills in the first two games then had five more in the third game to complement
Becki Meerbeek who also had five kills in the game.
Meerbeek led the Defenders with 17 kills for the match, and Annis finished with 14. Katelyn Meers led the Defenders defense with 24 digs.
Brandy Ribbens and Sarah Geraldson led Bradenton Christian with 12 kills.