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LP Defeats Mulberry To Reach District Volleyball Final

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Lake Placid's Jessica Wantuck serves a ball during Tuesday night's Class 3A-0istrict 10 tournament. The Green Dragons eliminated Mulberry and face Frostproof at 7 tonight for the district championship.

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By Mark  Pinson | Highlands Today

Published: October 25, 2007

LAKE PLACID — The Lake Placid High School girls volleyball team has been focused all season on repeating as Class 3A-District 10 champions and making a return trip to the state playoffs.

After dispatching a scrappy Mulberry squad on Tuesday night in the Class 3A-District 10 semifinals by scores of 23-25, 25-13, 25-10, 25-23, the Green Dragons are one step closer to achieving their goal.
Lake Placid, which swept the Panthers during the regular season, bounced back quickly after jumping ahead and then losing the first game.

"Mulberry stepped up and played us tough," Green Dragon coach Marilyn Jones said. "I don't think we let down after we got the lead, they just played well and took it to us.
"But we regrouped and came back strong the rest of the match and looked like the team I've seen all season."

After losing the first game, Lake Placid came out focused and stormed out to a 7-2 lead in the second game.
Outside hitter Sierra Weaver, who had a match-high nine kills, led the way by dominating play at the net.

"Sierra is strong and has good placement with her shots," Jones said. "She has improved as the season has progressed and gives us a real presence at the net."

Weaver also scored several points off her serves and Tiffany Bisby served a pair of aces as the Green Dragons increased their lead to 17-6.

Christina Wells wrapped up the win with an ace as Lake Placid evened the match.
The Green Dragons, with momentum on their side and a vocal crowd behind them, scored the first eight points of the third game and were never threatened as they rolled to the double-digit win.

The final game was a see-saw affair, and Mulberry led 20-18 behind some outstanding hustle.
But Lake Placid's talent and height were too much, as Brittney Baldwin's strong serving scored several crucial points, and Kristen Massung's strong net play moved the Dragons to match point.
A long rally ensued, but Massung clinched the win with a dink shot to move Lake Placid into the district final.

The top-seeded Dragons will play No. 2 seed Frostproof, which defeated McKeel Academy in Tuesday night's other semifinal, in tonight's final at 7 p.m.

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