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Volleyball Teams Up For Tournament

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By DAREK SHARP, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2007

PLANT CITY - The Durant and Plant City high volleyball squads can enter next week's District 6A-8 tournament feeling good about themselves.

Thanks to a pair of key victories in its final district matches of the regular season, Durant has earned the top seed. The Cougars had the benefit of being hosts; now they get a first-round bye, meaning just one victory is required to guarantee a postseason berth.

'We are getting very excited about the tournament,' Durant head coach Dawn Hough said. 'We've remained consistent throughout district play, and I know my seniors really want to win a district championship at home.'

Meanwhile, Plant City, which has been the bottom seed the past three seasons, earned the fifth position out of seven teams.

On Oct. 11, the Raiders shook off a loss in the first game at East Bay, winning the next three 25-11, 25-20, 25-21. Plant City is ahead of Riverview and East Bay in the 6A-6 standings.

Plant City plays in the tournament opener Tuesday against Sarasota Riverview. The match is scheduled for 4 p.m.

The winner of that one will play Durant at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The other half of the bracket will pit No. 3 seed Sarasota against Riverview and Lakeland against East Bay. The winners of those Tuesday-evening matches will square off in Wednesday's 6 p.m. semifinal.

Headed into the last week of district play, Durant could have ended up from first place to third place, depending on the outcome of its matches with Lakeland and Sarasota. The Cougars took control.

First they knocked off Lakeland, avenging what was Durant's only district loss of the season. Then against Sarasota - the team that had dealt Lakeland its lone loss before Tuesday - the Cougars won 25-21, 13-25, 25-21, 25-14. Durant improved its record to 15-5.

Durant previously had won a tournament at Bayshore Christian, going 3-0 by beating the hosts, along with 6A teams Gaither and Bloomingdale. Alexa Donini was selected to the all-tournament team.

Junior outside hitter Chelsea Morris leads Durant in kills per game, with Stephanie Eukovich right behind her. In addition to her 418 assists, Donini leads the Cougars with 51 aces.

Kelsey Horton is tops with 52 blocks, and another junior, Lindi Oest, leads in digs.

The 6A-8 final is 7 p.m. Friday. The teams that make the final will make the playoffs, but the district champ gains the advantage of being at home for at least the first round.

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampa trib.com.

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