Squads look to continue season at district volleyball finals

JEFF GARDENOUR
FOR FLORIDA TODAY

Titusville, Astronaut and Temple Christian School served up winning records in district volleyball play this season � a fact all three hope to take advantage of this week when district tournaments get under way.

THS hosts the Class 4A, District 13 tournament with a No. 2 seed after finishing second in district play with a 9-3 record. Only two-time defending Cape Coast Conference champion Merritt Island (18-2 overall) fared better in district play (12-0).

Astronaut (7-5 in district play) is seeded third and also could make a run for the title. Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High (5-7) is seeded fourth; Rockledge (4-8), fifth; Space Coast Junior/Senior High, sixth (3-9); and Cocoa High, seventh (2-10).

If AHS and THS (11-6 overall) get past this week�s early-round games, they could face each other in the semifinals at 5 p.m., today.

The winner advances to the championship game at 7 p.m. Thursday, and also earns an automatic berth to next week�s regional playoffs as finalists in every district advance.

Merritt Island, which has not lost to a CCC team in two seasons, plays either Cocoa Beach or Rockledge in the other semifinal at 7 p.m., today.

Last year, Merritt Island beat Cocoa Beach for the district championship.

THS will be looking for its playoff berth since 2002. The Terriers, coached by Eileen Serridge, only have made two playoff appearances in the last 10 years. AHS is seeking its 10th playoff appearance in 11 seasons.

In Class 1A, Temple Christian School (14-7 overall) will be shooting for its third consecutive playoff berth when it travels to Brevard Christian as the No. 2 seed for the District 8 tournament.

As the No. 2 seed, Temple Christian (6-2 in 1A-8) received a first-round bye and plays third-seeded Palm Bay Covenant Christian at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, in the semifinals.

Top-seeded and eighth-ranked Merritt Island Christian (19-6 overall, 8-0 in 1A-8) plays either fourth-seeded Brevard HEAT or fifth-seeded Brevard Christian in the other semifinal at 7 p.m., Thursday. The championship game is 7 p.m., Saturday.

Temple Christian recently finished third in the Clearwater Christian Tournament. Peggy Compton leads the team in kills, and Sarah Maynard is tops in assists.

Temple Christian will need a lot of contributions to stop MICS, which is shooting for its ninth playoff appearance in 10 years. Laurie Haines coaches the Cougars.