Merritt Island volleyball teams spike preseason
prognostications
JEFF GARDENOUR
FOR FLORIDA TODAY
NOV. 8 2006
After graduation took its toll on volleyball teams at Merritt Island High and Merritt
Island Christian School last year, expectations were not overly high for the 2006
season.
So, when both schools won their respective districts before finally losing in last
week�s regional semifinals, the 2006 season was deemed a tremendous success by Merritt
Island coach Angie Patrick and MICS coach Laurie Haines. Merritt Island and MICS
were the only Central Brevard schools to advance to the playoffs this year.
Merritt Island, which received votes in the final Florida High School Sports Writers
Association Class 4A poll, defeated 2005 state champion Riviera Beach Suncoast,
28-26, 25-10, 25-20, in the regional quarterfinals before losing to top-ranked Fort
Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, 25-19, 25-20, 25 -13, in the regional semifinals. The
Mustangs finished with a 24-5 record.
�I couldn�t be prouder of this team,� Patrick said. �These girls set high standards
for themselves this season, and they exceeded everyone�s expectations for a rebuilding
year. We ended up undefeated in conference and district for the second year in a
row and got just as far in the playoffs as our senior-loaded team last year. Of
course, we really wanted to get to state, but we faced a very strong team in Cardinal
Gibbons.�
Patrick praised junior middle blocker Crystal Niederriter, junior setter Anna Tournade,
junior outside hitter Jackie Oleksik, sophomore outside hitter/Libero Paula Passmore
and junior middle blocker/right-side hitter Katie Riley for strong play this season.
Niederriter enjoyed one of the best individual performances in years, recording
319 total kills, averaging 4.3 per game. �She was definitely our �go-to� hitter
and worked very hard to make her team better,� Patrick said. �She also played a
fantastic back row in passing, defense and attack, which makes her a pretty special
player.�
Tournade also had a memorable season, notching 777 assists, averaging 8.93 per game.
�For her first year running the offense, she stepped in and did an outstanding job,�
Patrick said. �She made very smart decisions and held her team together.�
Oleksik recorded 77 aces this season. �We had to play her in the middle blocker
position because she was the most athletic-moving across the net, but probably the
shortest middle blocker in the conference,� Patrick said.
Passmore led the Mustangs� defense with 4.14 digs per game. She also had 70 points
off of aces. Riley led Merritt Island�s offense with the highest hitting percentage
(.272). �Katie definitely was one of the most improved players and became a strong
force to be reckoned with,� Patrick said.Merritt Island loses only one senior to
graduation: right-side hitter Brittany Lamarca. Assisting Patrick with the coaching
were Rob Hansen and Susan Westbrock.
In Class 1A, eighth-ranked MICS (22-7) beat Orlando Christian Prep, 25-16, 25-11,
25-20, in the regional quarterfinals before falling to fourth-ranked Maitland Orangewood
Christian, 25-6, 25-19, 25-5, in the semifinals.
�This was a great season for us, especially considering we were rebuilding with
a loss of five starters from last year�s team,� Haines said. �We lost only one more
game than last year and we had a tougher schedule.�
Merritt Island Christian�s Amanda Weekley set a school record for most kills in
a season (254), averaging 3.3 per game. She also had 70 aces and led the team in
blocks (68).
The Cougars� Stephanie Quinn set a school record for most aces in a season (131)
and led the team in assists and was second in digs. Teammate Bryn Hafer set a school
record for most digs in a season (242).
MICS is expected to return eight players next season, including starters Quinn,
freshman setter; Haleigh Campbell, sophomore defensive specialist; and Kacie Paulk,
sophomore outside hitter. Also returning are: freshmen Bailey Scott and Kristen
Cox; sophomores Aimee DeWitt and Erica Robes; and junior Sarah Becker.
�Next season, we return a nice nucleus of players,� Haines said. �All eight of my
returning players saw considerable playing time this season, so they should be off
to a good start next season after adjusting to the loss of key seniors.�