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Highlands Today

Building A Green Dynasty

Brian Gjurgevich/Highlands Today

Lake Placid's Ali Baker (right) and Sierra Weaver share a laugh through the net on Wednesday during Green Dragon volleyball practice at Lake Placid High School.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: August 21, 2008

LAKE PLACID - The trophy case at Lake Placid High School has become a crowded place in the wake of the volleyball team's recent success, but head coach Marilyn Jones still scoffs at the notion that her Green Dragons are building a dynasty.

"I don't think you'd call it a dynasty," said Jones, whose Dragons seek their fourth straight Class 3A-District 10 championship. "We've just had girls with a real passion for the game. When someone leaves the team, it's given someone else an opportunity, and we always seem to find that perfect piece to compliment our team."

Every year, Jones said, she gets asked whether the Dragons can defend their district crown, and every year she lists the same reasons why Lake Placid is going to have a tough road.

But in the end, the Green Dragons always seem to be in the mix.

"We have a great group of girls, and they're excited about the possibilities for this season," Jones said. "But the season hasn't started, and we have a lot of volleyball left to play."

Senior Julie Shrewsbury was on the side of her coach when asked about the possibility of hoisting a fourth district trophy.

"That would be an amazing accomplishment," Shrewsbury said. "We're so ready for the season to start, and we continue to get stronger as a team during practice. There's no question the hunger is still there for another title."

Practices at Lake Placid gym have been spirited to say the least, with the action reaching a fever pitch as the season draws near.

"These girls just hate losing, plain and simple," Jones said. "They take it personal when someone beats them, even if it's each other.

"I remember going to see them at a camp at Warner Southern over the summer. They were undefeated going into the last game, but a team from West Palm beat them. The girls took it really hard and have carried that memory around all the way through camp.

"They're ready to replace that memory."

"You play how you practice," Shrewsbury surmised. "You can't just walk out on the court and win a district title. It doesn't work that way. You've got to work harder than your opponent and push yourself to being the best."

Shrewsbury has been moved from libero to setter this season by Jones, who has some big shoes to fill from the departure of Brittney Baldwin.

"She's trying to learn the new position and working amazingly hard at it," Jones said. "Julie is such a perfectionist, and I think she's not as confident in her abilities as I am in her.

"She's going to be one of the keys to us making a run at defending our title this season."

Lost from last season's squad are five seniors, including Highlands Today All-Heartland Player of the Year Kristen Massung, who was her team's co-leader in kills with 189 and accumulated a staggering 98 blocks on the season -- more than half her team's total.

Returning junior Sierra Weaver and senior Ali Baker will be asked to fill a void as the Green Dragons top offensive weapons. Weaver, who moved from outside hitter to middle, was the team co-leader in kills (182) and will be complimented nicely by senior Kaneisha Hamilton and Tiffany Bisbey.

Bisbey finished last season with a team-high 54 aces and 122 kills and has the experience to be a formidable outside hitter for the Green Dragons.

"If Tiffany is on her game," Jones said. "She's real difficult to defend."

Sophomores Kylie Webber, a transfer from Washington state, and Olivia Goolsby will be an added bonus off the bench as Jones likes their versatility and spunk.

"I like that Kylie can play left side or right with equal ability," Jones said. "Goolsby's promotion to varsity will give her an added jolt of experience that'll help her later in her career."

The Green Dragons play their first match against host Class 4A Sebring in the Preseason Classic on Aug. 26, an event in which Jones said she'll get a sense of the kind of team she has.

"Beating Sebring, even in a preseason game, can make your entire year," Jones said. "If anyone talks about a dynasty it should be Sebring, because they've been playing at such a high level for so long.

"We've got a scrappy bunch of girls on this team. We lost some height up front, but I think we make up for it in team speed and that's going to be an asset that we hope will pay dividends down the road."

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5827 or at choffman@highlandstoday.com.

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