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Highlands Today

Streaks Back To Full Strength For Districts

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By None Selected

Published: October 22, 2007

The high school gym would've been quiet on Saturday, had it not been for Ashley Waldon and Anna West.

The Sebring volleyball players — whose on-court collision on Oct. 4 sidelined both for the home stretch of the regular season –— got in a few extra passes and hits over the weekend in preparation for the Class 4A-District 10 volleyball tournament, which begins tonight at Sebring High School.

Blue Streak coach Venessa Sinness said the pair practiced with the team all week, though with elimination games looming, both felt a few extra hours of individual work couldn't hurt.
"The more they touch the ball, the more comfortable they'll feel," Sinness said. "The more they play, the quicker they'll lose any hesitation, so it's good for them to get those reps."

Sinness, on the other hand, hasn't hesitated to call out her team's lack of on-court leadership in Waldon's absence, something she said the whole squad has responded to. The Streaks, who claimed the No. 2 seed in the district with a 10-2 record this season, host No. 7 seed Booker tonight at 7 p.m., a match in which Sinness said her whole lineup will need to show it's ready to play at a higher level.
"[After the three-set loss to Lake Placid last week] I told the whole team that it looked like none of them wanted to be out there," Sinness said. "I told them nobody wanted to take charge and nobody wanted to show that killer instinct — and I think that got them fired up a little."

Sinness noted the team will need to see continued solid play out of senior Rachel Ashley and junior Hannah Shoop, who stepped up while Waldon and West healed. Sebring defeated Booker twice this season, though to reach the district finals and secure a spot in the regional tournament, Sinness said her girls can't overlook anyone.

"We can't take them lightly," she said. "They're really scrappy, so we can't be caught off guard."

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