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Hernando Today

NCT Preps for Postseason Play

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

NCT’s volleyball team heads to Bradenton-Southeast High for this weekend’s 16-team Lady 'Noles Invitational tournament.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: October 17, 2008

To say Nature Coast Technical has rolled through its regular-season slate would do the Lady Sharks a disservice.

They sit at 18-1, with their only loss coming Sept. 22 at county-rival Central High in five games. One week later, they won the return match at home in four.

A closer look at those 19 matches reveals Nature Coast has dropped nine games and hasn't lost one since the first game in the second Central match on Sept. 29. That covers eight matches, or 24 straight games.

But for a team that has reached regionals in four consecutive seasons without a single victory, the aspirations are much higher.

To that end, the Lady Sharks will attend the Lady 'Noles Invitational this weekend at Bradenton-Southeast High.

This will also mark the end of Nature Coast's regular-season schedule, with the Class 4A, District 8 Tournament beginning Oct. 27 at Wiregrass Ranch High.

"Hopefully it gives us an opportunity to have some competition where we really test ourselves," Nature Coast Head Coach Dan Murphy said. "We'll see what we're made of going into states. Even if we lose, it'll give us a wake-up call and show us what we need to do."

The rugged 16-team field, divided into four pools, also includes: Palm Harbor, Sarasota-Riverview, North Port, Lake Wales Academy, River Ridge, Belleview, Sarasota-Cardinal Mooney, Sarasota-Booker, Clermont-East Ridge, Punta Gorda-Charlotte, Jacksonville-Trinity Christian, Niceville, Palmetto, West Palm Beach-Summit Christian and host Southeast.

The Lady Sharks are in Pool D along with Niceville, Palmetto and Summit Christian. They play Summit Christian at 4 p.m. today, followed by a 6:30 p.m. match with Palmetto.

On Saturday at 9:15 a.m. they'll take on Niceville, followed by two matches in a tournament round determined by the outcome of pool play.

"I want to see team unity, see us moving out there," Murphy said. "I want to see the girls communicating well. We will be tested, especially if we get into the semifinals and finals of this tournament.

"I think we have a very strong chance to win it. We're not going to let up in anyway."

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Lady 'Noles Invitational

WHO: Nature Coast, Palm Harbor, Sarasota-Riverview, North Port, Lake Wales Academy, River Ridge, Belleview, Sarasota-Cardinal Mooney, Sarasota-Booker, Clermont-East Ridge, Punta Gorda-Charlotte, Jacksonville-Trinity Christian, Niceville, Palmetto, West Palm Beach-Summit Christian and Bradenton-Southeast.

WHEN: Oct. 17-18

WHERE: Bradenton-Southeast High.

FORMAT: Four four-team pools play Friday and early Saturday; tournament round later Saturday.

DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 275 south toward St. Petersburg to exit 5 (Palmetto/Bradenton). Follow U.S. Highway 41 south, bear left on U.S. Highway 301. Bear right on 15th Street East (State Road 70). Turn right on 37th Avenue East. The school is located at 1200 37th Ave. East.

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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