Green Dragons Ready To Defend

LAKE PLACID -- Defending the Class 3A-District 10 championship has been a motivating factor all season for the Lake Placid High School volleyball team.

After rolling through the regular season with an impressive 14-3 overall record, including 6-0 in district play, the No. 1 seeded Green Dragons begin defense of their title tonight with a home match against No. 4 seed Mulberry.

A win against the Panthers moves Lake Placid into Thursday night's district final against the winner of tonight's other semifinal between No. 2 seed Frostproof and third-seed McKeel Academy.

Frostproof and McKeel tip-off in the first game at 6 tonight, while the Green Dragons and Panthers take the floor at 7:30.

A victory against Mulberry, which Lake Placid swept during the season, also clinches a spot in the regional quarterfinals for the Green Dragons.

"We beat Mulberry both times during the season, but the last match was closer than I liked," Lake Placid coach Marilyn Jones said. "They don't have a lot of height, but they are a scrappy team that keeps the ball in play.

"This is the most important match of the season and the girls are ready to go."

Lake Placid won last year's district title at Frostproof, and Jones hopes her team can take advantage of playing on their home floor and in front of the vocal Green Dragon fans.

"We're in our gym and we know the lights and the floor, and everything is in our favor," the Lake Placid coach said. "We just have to stay focused, execute our gameplan and not worry about anything except playing our best.

"Mulberry wears blue uniforms just like Sebring, and if we play against them like we did against Sebring this season, we'll be fine."