TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

DeSoto Aces Avon Park

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Avon Park's Daija Barrett tries to tip a shot over DeSoto's Jodi Vessels during Thursday's Class 4A-District 10 match.

ADVERTISEMENT

By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: October 11, 2008

AVON PARK - Head coach Stephanie Devlin could only shake her head and laugh after she watched a serve by DeSoto hit the top of the net, drop for a winner and force her to call a timeout on Thursday.

"It was just one of those nights," Devlin said.

Avon Park had no answers for DeSoto's powerful serves, which dropped for 25 aces on the match - including seven by senior Meaghan Lipe - as the Bulldogs swept the Red Devils 25-11, 25-15, 25-13 in Class 4A-District 10 action.

"This wasn't the same team that played against Palmetto," Devlin said. "DeSoto is a dynamic team that's very versatile and I was hoping that we'd stand up to them and come out with the same intensity we did against Palmetto.

"I think we were a little intimidated."

DeSoto opened the game with their second unit and streaked out to a 14-4 lead that featured five aces by Lupe, as the Bulldogs scored the first seven points before Avon Park's Daija Barrett tipped over a winner.

Barrett, who led the Red Devils with four kills and a block, was surprised her team didn't put up a bigger fight against the Bulldogs.

"We expected a challenge from DeSoto and the adrenaline was up before the game," Barrett said. "We just slacked off on our coverage, and you can't have any holes in your game when you're playing them."

DeSoto is defending district champs and last year made it all the way to the state semifinals before being derailed by Lemon Bay in four games.

Avon Park's Achilles Heel against DeSoto was on serve/receive, where the Bulldogs rattled off seven-plus points at a time to put the Red Devils in a huge hole from the start of the match, allowing the visitors would cruise to an easy victory.

Bulldog senior co-captain Brittany Muse had a lackluster game by her standards, as she played just two of the three games and finished with six kills and three aces and eight assists on the night for district leading DeSoto.

"I think we're better than we were last year," Muse said. "We're working well together and I think our defense is what's really been upgraded this season. We are quick to the ball at the net and we communicate really well. I'm looking forward to districts."

Muse recently signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for Division-I Florida Gulf Coast University next fall.

Watching the Bulldogs on the court reminded Devlin at how far the DeSoto team has come.

"I remember beating many of these girls in middle school," Devlin said. "But the road diverged when those girls started playing club ball. DeSoto is also great at orchestrating the bump, set and spike and they're fundamentally sound.

"That's the kind of team you can have when the girls play year round. The biggest hurdle for me is to make volleyball a fundamental sport in Avon Park and have girls at the youngest levels choosing this sport at an early age and begin their development.

"DeSoto is definitely a blueprint for where I want the Avon Park program to be in the coming years."

Avon Park is back on the court on Tuesday when they travel to face district foe Braden River at 7 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL: Lake Placid Slips Past McKeel

LAKELAND - Lake Placid started off slow but was able to hold off McKeel Academy with a three game sweep (25-20, 25-10 and 25-17) in the Class 3A-District 10 match-up on Thursday.

"The girls pulled together after a long two hour bus ride," said LP head coach Marilyn Jones. "They overcame that slow start and played smart volleyball to come away with the win."

Tiffany Bisbey led the way with eight kills followed by Kayla Summerfiled with seven and Sierra Weaver chipped in five kills.

Summerfield had an amazing game serving, as she had 14 straight service points with six of them going for aces.

GOLF: Sebring, Avon Park Rained Out

LAKE WALES - The Sebring and Avon Park golf teams played six holes, but a downpour halted play on Thursday at Lekarika golf club.

The Blue Streaks head to districts on Monday, while the Red Devils play in districts on Tuesday in Bradenton.

"The girls' games have really come together," said AP coach Suzie Gentry. "They're all pumped up and ready for districts."

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT