Defending
state champion ousts Merritt Island Christian
Merritt
Island, Holy Trinity, MCC also tumble
STAFF REPORTS
MERRITT ISLAND - Orangewood Christian has one of the state's best Class 1A volleyball programs, and that point came through convincingly on Saturday.
Orangewood, the defending state champion, took charge early and breezed to a 3-0 victory against Merritt Island Christian in the Class 1A, Region 3 semifinals, 25-6, 25-19, 25-6
"They're stacked with really big girls," MICS coach Laurie Haynes said of Orangewood, now 22-6. "Their entire front lineup is huge. But what really killed us was their ability to jump-serve. "They had two players who served incredibly and we just couldn't pass them."
Merritt Island Christian, which finished 22-7, tried to make things interesting midway through the match, but eventually Orangewood reassumed command against the younger Cougars.
"We came alive in the second game and started hitting our own serves, which we didn't in the first and third games," Haines said. "And we were generating offense. "We had a really good year. I've got a good corps of returning players. We'll certainly work on serve receiving."
Class 1A, Region 3
semifinals
Orangewood Christian d.
Merritt Island Christian
25-6, 25-19, 25-6
Kills: Amanda Weekley 4, Kacie Paulk 1. Assists: Jessica Quinn 4, Stephanie Quinn 3. Digs: J. Quinn 6, S. Quinn 5. Blocks: Weekley 2, Erica Robes 2. Aces: Paulk 3, S. Quinn 2, Weekley 2. Records: Merritt Island Christian 21-7; Orangewood Christian 22-6.
Merritt Island ousted. In Fort Lauderdale, this time, Cardinal Gibbons didn't give Merritt Island a chance at Fort Lauderdale.
Last year the two Class 4A rivals had battled to the limit at Merritt Island in the regional semifinals. But the Mustangs couldn't keep up Saturday, losing 25-19, 25-20, 25-13.
Merritt Island finished its season 24-5. Cardinal Gibbons improved to 29-0 and has a good shot at the state title.
Crystal Neiderriter recorded nine kills, Anna Tournade had 22 assists and Paula Passmore added 11 digs for Merritt Island.
Class 4A, Region 4
semifinals
Cardinal Gibbons d. Merritt Island
25-19, 25-20, 25-13
Kills: Crystal Neiderriter 9 (MI), Krista Hamilton 4 (MI), Lindsay New 4 (MI), Katie Riley 4 (MI). Assists: Anna Tournade 22 (MI). Blocks: Riley 1 (MI), Neiderriter 1 (MI). Aces: Neiderriter 2 (MI), Paula Passmore 2 (MI), Jackie Oleksik 2 (MI). Digs: Passmore 11 (MI), Neiderriter 7 (MI). Final record: Merritt Island 24-5.
MCC swept. In Fort Myers, in volleyball, as in life, timing is everything.
Case in point: Saturday's Class 3A, Region 3 semifinal between visiting Melbourne Central Catholic and Bishop Verot.
The Hustlers dominated play in the first game and served for the set with a 24-21 lead. But the host Vikings ran off five consecutive points to steal the game and the momentum on their way to a 26-24, 25-14, 25-22 victory.
"When you lose a game like that, it definitely takes some of the stuffing out of you," said MCC coach Bonnie Priester, whose team ended its season with an 18-10 record. "It took us a while to shake that off."
By that time, Bishop Verot had firm control of the match. Even when the Hustlers mounted a rally in the third game, pulling within two points at 22-20, the Vikings again stepped up and ended any hopes of a MCC comeback.
Jourdan Sanscrainte had a team-high 12 kills for the Hustlers. Rachel Priester had
18 assists and Jules Vasquez chipped in with 25 digs. -- Dan Deluca,
Fort Myers News-Press
Class 3A, Region 3
semifinals
Fort Myers Bishop Verot d.
Melbourne Central Catholic
26-24, 25-14, 25-22
Kills: Jourdan Sanscrainte 12 (MCC), Rachel Priester 7 (MCC), Kelly Drack 7 (MCC). Assists: Priester 18 (MCC), Jules Vasquez 3 (MCC), Caldwell 2 (MCC). Blocks: Jamee Gabbard 2 (MCC), Kristen Caldwell 1 (MCC), Nicole Silva 1 (MCC). Aces: Sanscrainte 2 (MCC), Vasquez 1 (MCC), Priester 1 (MCC). Digs: Vasquez 25 (MCC), Sanscrainte 9 (MCC), Priester 9 (MCC), Drack 8 (MCC). Final record: Melbourne Central Catholic 18-10.
Holy Trinity bounced. In Fort Myers, Evangelical Christian School's outside hitters Brittany Bunch and Holly Youngquist were too much for Holy Trinity.
Bunch and Youngquist racked up 10 kills apiece as Evangelical Christian defeated Holy Trinity 25-16, 25-17, 25-16 in the Class 2A, Region 2 semifinals.
The defending Class 2A state champions will face the Indian Rocks Christian-First Academy winner in the region finals Thursday night.
Despite the loss, Holy Trinity coach Daniella Bragg was happy with the way her young team performed overall this season.
"I'm very happy," Bragg said. "They showed much improvement and a drive to succeed and learn new things."
The Tigers return six juniors and five freshmen next season.
"So hopefully they'll come back with a fire now that they have a taste of regionals," Bragg said.
Kaycee Anderson had five kills, two blocks and three aces, while Julia Swalchick had six kills for Holy Trinity.
Jessi Greenberg led the Tigers with seven digs and Sevi Kartonis had a team-high five blocks. Sonja Hamke added 15 assists in the loss.
ECS' outside hitters, Youngquist and sophomore Brittany Bunch, led the way. Youngquist had 10 kills and 15 digs. Bunch had 10 kills and 10 digs. Junior setter Sheri Davis had 24 assists and six kills.
Holy Trinity (20-8) opened the first game by grabbing a 4-0 lead but then the Sentinels
went on a 13-2 run. The Tigers never threatened again. -- Chris Umpierre
Fort Myers News-Press
Class 2A, Region 2
semifinals
Evangelical Christian d. Holy Trinity
15-25, 16-25, 19-25
Kills: Julia Swalchick 6, Jessica Johns 5, Kaycee Anderson 5. Assists: Sonja Hamke 15. Digs: Jessi Greenberg 7, Shea O'Brien 2, Kristin Moody 2. Blocks: Sevi Kartonis 5, Anderson 2, Hamke 2. Aces: Anderson 3, Swalchick 1. Records: Evangelical Christian 17-10; Holy Trinity 20-8.