DeSoto Downs Sebring In District Volleyball

SEBRING - If you could gaze into a crystal ball and tell the future, one could surmise that what the fans witnessed on Tuesday was a preview of the Class 4A-District 10 volleyball final.

The DeSoto Bulldogs sent a clear message to every team in the district when they dispatched the Sebring Blue Streaks in a three-set sweep (25-17, 25-10, 25-14) and are all-but assured a lock as the No. 1 seed in the tournament.

"They are rivals of ours and we wanted to make a statement with our play tonight," Bulldog junior Brittany Muse said. "We wanted to let everyone know that we are the team to beat and I really hope we meet them in the tournament."

Muse finished the game with nine kills, two aces and a four blocks against the Blue Streaks, using her size and quickness to keep Sebring's offense to a minimum.
"She [Muse] is a great athlete Sebring head coach Venessa Sinness said. "Not only does she have the hardest shot in the district but the quickest arm."

The loss drops Sebring to 12-5 overall and 9-2 in the district - the only two losses in district play coming at the hands of DeSoto, which is ranked No. 5 in the latest state poll and is undefeated in the district.

The match looked to be completely one-sided at the onset, with the Bulldogs storming out to a 14-7 lead, rattling off nine unanswered points to force Sinness to call a time out.

The time out seemed to calm the Blue Streaks, who were playing without setter Ashley Waldron and freshman Anna West.

Sebring used good communication and kept the ball in play to weather the onslaught at the net brought on by Muse and junior Kalee Schlabach to score five-straight points to slice the deficit to two points.

From there the game went back and forth, with Sebring and DeSoto battling for position like two chessmasters.
But in any game, someone has to win and the Blue Streaks couldn't match the Bulldogs at the net that led to the game-ending 6-1 run.

West and Waldron were injured during a collision on the court in Okeechobee last week. Some battle scars are evident, but the smiles and the desire to be on the court with their teammates was obvious.
"It was pretty bad for us after it happened," Waldron said. "There was blood everywhere and we were rushed to the hospital, but that isn't deterring us from wanting to play. I can't wait to get back out there with my teammates but I know I have to be 100 percent before I can do that.

The status for the tournament is unknown for both players.
Even with the opening game loss, Sinness was proud of her girls play against a much bigger opponent.
"This team was able to come back after being down and that showed me a lot," she said. "It showed me that we can play with this team. If not for one lull at the end, who knows what could have happened.

"The thing I have to stress to my girls is that you can't have any mental lapses with a team like DeSoto. They don't make many mistakes. We have to play with consistency."

The final two games went pretty much according to formula, with the Bulldogs setting up the powerful outside hitters of Muse and Schlabach and the Blue Streaks unable to put together any kind of rally against their district foes.
Spirits were up for the Blue Streaks after the game, as the talk of meeting them in the district final was on everyone's mind.

"We are not taking anyone lightly in our district," outside hitter Rachel Ashley said. "But it would be nice to face them again in the tournament. We just have to come out with the mentality of dig or die. They are a hard team to adjust against and we have to play the perfect game if we are going to beat them."

Weeks led the Blue Streaks with five kills, while finished with 15 assists in her first varsity start.
"She played amazing for only having one day of practice," Sinness said. "People don't realize that the setter is the most important position on the court. They are like the quarterback and the goalie wrapped in one. She will get much better with more practice with the girls."