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Streaks Still Searching After Win Over Wildcats

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Sebring's Karley Freeland tips the ball past Hardee's Krystin Robertson 10 and Lacey Garza 1 during Tuesday's district match.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: October 16, 2008

SEBRING - Football coaching legend Bill Parcells once said he learned more from a loss than he ever had from a win, but Sebring volleyball coach Venessa Sinness likely felt the opposite way on Tuesday night.

After knocking off Hardee in quick fashion in the first two games, the lackadaisical side of the Blue Streaks' personality showed itself, as the 'Cats made the host team earn every point before Sebring walked away with a three-set victory (25-11, 25-11, 25-21) in the Class 4A-District 10 match-up on senior night.

"I would've liked to have seen that killer instinct that I felt was lacking," said the SHS coach. "We got really careless in that third game, but we're thankful that Hardee wasn't Lake Placid."

On Monday, Lake Placid pushed Sebring to a fifth game tiebreaker after the Blue Streaks won the first two games.

"But in their defense, I did switch things up a bit in that last game," Sinness said. "I moved some girls around to get them playing time in different positions."

With the Streaks winning the first two games with ease, Hardee found the best way to attempt to beat Sebring was to let them beat themselves

Sebring's shots fell into the net with regularity and shots went wide, as the 'Cats hung right with the Streaks. Hardee's Eryn Mahoney sent a spike off the outstretched hands of Anna West and out of bounds to tie the game at 11 and thoughts raced to the previous night and how that unfolded.

"I briefly thought about how we let Lake Placid back in the game and let them build up some confidence, and I told myself that it wasn't going to happen," said Sebring's Molly Blackman. "I think we were a little tired because of the schedule we've had the last week or so, but we still wanted to win and showed we can pull close games out."

Pulling out close games has been a specialty of Sebring's this season, as the Streaks have yet to lose a five-set match this season in three tries.

But should these games even be competitive when the Streaks clearly have an abundance of talent - more so than many of their ounterparts?

"I think we lose focus sometimes and get a little overconfident," said Sebring's Hannah Shoop. "As in the games against Lake Placid, it can come back and hurt us. We have to maintain our aggression, especially in the last few games heading into the district tournament.

"You can't just turn it on."

After their win against Hardee, Sebring is 8-4 in the district and will have to wait for the remaining scheduled games in the district for seedings to fall into place.

Currently, DeSoto is undefeated and a lock for the No. 1 seed with possibly Braden River at No. 2 and Sebring at No. 3.

Sinness is hoping for the higher seed and a more favorable route toward a chance at the championship finals.

"We'd love to face DeSoto again in the finals," Sinness said. "But we can't overlook any teams in our district by any means. Once you start looking ahead, then you underestimate the team that's standing right in front of you and that's the way you get beat.

"We need to come out hungry no matter who we play."

Before the game, the Streaks honored their four seniors (Shoop, Rikki Albritton, Blackman and Kayla Clemens) on the final regular season home game with flowers, balloons, gifts and crowns.

But after the grandeur of the moment, Sebring got down to business by playing with a confidence that only a seasoned team normally displays.

Karley Freeland blasted back-to-back power spikes through the Hardee defense, as the Streaks pummeled the 'Cats with a 15-4 run to open the match and the rout was on with the home team getting everyone involved in a dominating performance.

A carbon copy was on tap for the second game, with Shoop taking center stage as she had four kills, two blocks and an ace for good measure, as Sebring opened up a 17-7 lead and never looked back for a duplicate 14-point win.

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

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