Cougars cruise past Lions

Here's the bottom line for Merritt Island Christian's two Class 1A Region 2 volleyball matches: two victories, six sets and less than two hours total playing time.

Their latest victim was in-county rival Temple Christian, which played shorthanded and with pluck, but was no match for the host Cougars' athleticism, occasional acrobatics and pure power, falling 25-11, 25-8, 25-12 in Tuesday's semifinals.

The Cougars take the last step toward the Nov. 19-22 state finals at the Lakeland Center, hosting Geneva, who beat Circle Christian 27-25, 25-18, 28-30, 25-23, in the regional finals at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Cougar Coliseum.

Unlike their regional quarterfinal victory over Lakeland's Victory Christian when they started off in a sleepwalk, the Cougars wasted little time getting ahead of Temple Christian, which played without starters and sisters Hannah and Haliegh Hodges whose father was involved in a serious car accident in North Carolina. The Cougars trailed 1-0 and 2-1 before outscoring the Lions 15-3 to build a 16-5 lead en route to the first set victory.

The second set was highlighted by MIC junior Stephanie Quinn serving for 11 straight Cougar points to close things out. Quinn finished the night with an impressive linescore: 13 aces, eight kills, seven assists and seven digs with several of her powerful balls striking Temple players in the face.

"She's got a powerful serve," MIC coach Laurie Hines. "She really steps it up for each game. Mediocre isn't good enough for her."

Temple, which ended the season at 10-10, played MIC tougher in the third set, including a lengthy final point that brought the crowd to its feet but didn't have enough for the Cougars, who are now 23-6.

"We work hard in practice," Quinn said. "We come in the gym, our minds are on volleyball, nothing else. We've gotten a lot more intense and a lot more focused."

Will that be enough to get them to the state tournament?

"Yes sir, I believe we can do anything," Quinn said. "We definitely have a very strong team this year. We have the ability to go there."

Hines agrees.

"These girls are good," she said. "I've know from day one they're a team that can make it back to the Final Four. They're really working hard and I hope they get there."

MMIC beat Geneva this season, losing only one set in the process.