TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pinellas News

Hurricanes Storm Into Regional Semis

HURRICANES 3, LETO 0

Eric Horchy/SUNCOAST

Sophomore middle hitter Allyson Henning blocks a hit from Leto's Marina Dotti, and then slaps down a point.

ADVERTISEMENT

By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: November 5, 2008

PALM HARBOR - It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.

That famous Mark Twain adage is often used and referred to in sports whenever an opponent of lesser stature manages to come out on top against all physical odds.

In many instances, the proverb holds true. Not so Wednesday night.

Palm Harbor University's height advantage at the net over visiting Leto High was clearly visible at first glance and the Hurricanes' overall strength proved to be an insurmountable challenge to overcome during the Class 5A regional quarterfinals match at Palm Harbor.

Middle hitters Allyson Henning and Morgan Kosterlitz – both over six-feet tall – helped make sure there would be no David vs. Goliath reenactment by rejecting 12 combined shots at the net on defense. Kosterlitz provided eight of those blocks.

It was apparent early on that Leto (11-6) – the Class 5A-District 10 runners-up – was overwhelmed by PHU's play. In fact, on one Falcon block attempt against Kosterlitz, a leaping Leto defender was physically shoved back from the force of the spike against her arms.

After giving away a few points due to unforced errors during Game One's 25-16 PHU victory, the Hurricanes (24-3) jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead in the second game and won handedly, 25-7.

The Falcons did manage to grab the lead twice early in Game Three and took a 7-5 advantage at one point. Though she hit a couple balls long and into the net to start the final game, heavy-hitting junior Cassie Roy rebounded and began to take over while PHU used two separate 6-0 runs to eventually triumph 25-10.

Roy led all attackers with 11 kills, followed by Kosterlitz's six. Henning and Hannah Smith added five a piece.

"We definitely wanted to play a little better than we did," Roy said after the match, referring to a few PHU hitting miscues that prolonged games. "We wanted to prepare for the Plant-East Lake winner, but we knew that we just had to play at least somewhat to our level and then we can go far."

PHU coach Tara Kuk echoed similar sentiments, but also included what positives she witnessed.

"Our service game and defense looked good and our primary passers and defenders were moving really well," she said. "I think that we didn't execute the way we needed to, though. We had way too many unforced errors."

Chelsea King stepped up on defense by recording 10 digs and Michele Gentry added eight.

Though they did not yet know it on the court after dispatching of Leto so quickly, PHU's next challenge will be Plant High. The Panthers – back-to-back defending Class 5A State Champs and ranked No. 2 throughout Florida – took out East Lake 3-0 and will certainly require the Hurricanes to bring their "A" game next Tuesday.

Plant beat the Hurricanes in the quarterfinals two years in a row – 2005 and 2006 – and many from this year's PHU squad were on one or both of those teams.

Tuesday night's regional semifinal will be hosted by Plant and begin at 7:00 p.m.

SCORING

LETO ---------------- 16 --- 7 --- 10
PALM HARBOR ----- 25 --- 25 --- 25

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT