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Highlands Today

Sluggish Dragons Bounce Bulldogs

Mark PinsonHighlands Today

Lake Placid's Sierra Weaver 11 blasts a shot as Frostproof's Brittany Monk 1 and Rachael Blocker try for the block during Thursday night's Class 3A-District 10 match.

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By MARK PINSON Highlands Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 27, 2008

LAKE PLACID - Despite playing its third match in four days, the Lake Placid volleyball team managed to overcome fatigue and a tenacious Frostproof squad to score a 25-16, 22-25, 25-10, 18-25, 15-4 victory on Thursday night.

This was the first Class 3A-District 10 match for both teams and it took all the reserve the Green Dragons could muster to hold off the scrappy Bulldogs.

"We didn't make it easy on ourselves," said veteran Lake Placid coach Marilyn Jones. "I think playing at Fort Meade on Monday and then losing a close match to Sebring on Tuesday really took its toll on us.

"You have to give Frostproof credit because they played hard and didn't quit, but the girls were still tired and we weren't as focused as we normally are."

The Green Dragons came out like they were ready to play and promptly jumped out to a 9-5 lead in the first game behind strong serving by Sierra Weaver and solid net play by Kaneisha Hamilton.

Frostproof committed numerous unforced errors and had several serves go awry as Lake Placid cruised to the easy win.

The Bulldogs refused to go quietly and came out on fire in the second game to grab a 9-7 lead.

Outside hitter Brittany Monk - who had a team-high nine kills and six blocks - led the way as Frostproof battled the taller and more talented Green Dragons to take a 22-21 lead.

Monk, appropriately enough, had a block and two ace serves to close out the game to even the match.

"We started the match OK, but after we won the first game we had a letdown," said LP junior outside hitter Kayla Summerfield. "Even though it was a district match we weren't that motivated and it showed.

"After we lost the second game, we talked about getting our energy level up and playing like we're capable."

The strategy worked, as Lake Placid stormed out to a 7-2 lead in the third game behind excellent setting from Julie Shrewsbury and outstanding net play by Summerfield.

Hamilton, who had eight kills and three blocks, chipped in with several kills and three aces as the Green Dragons steadily pulled away for the easy win.

Frostproof, which doesn't have a lot of height, managed to take advantage of strong serving by Monk and Hannah Sykes, and uncharacteristic errors by Lake Placid to win game four to force a 15-point final game.

Summerfield got the Green Dragons off on the right foot with back-to-back kills and Weaver and Tiffany Bisbey added ace serves for a quick 10-2 lead.

Weaver, who had seven kills and five blocks, dominated the net and Hamilton closed out the match with a cross-court spike to seal the district win.

"Even though we didn't play our best, we came together as a team and got the win," Shrewsbury said. "District games are the most important and we want to defend our district championship in the worst way.

"We know we're going to take the other team's best shot, but we've got to pump each other up and play our best if we want to accomplish our goal of another district title."

Mark Pinson can be reached at 863-386-5837 or mpinson@highlandstoday.com

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