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Hernando Today

(Lady) Shark Hunt

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: September 2, 2008

They are the hunted now, the bull's eye firmly on their collective backs.
In 2007 Nature Coast Technical (20-6) no longer played second fiddle within the bounds of its own county and district, claiming outright championships in both for the first time.
Bad news for everyone else in the area: the Lady Sharks are loaded once again with eight returnees out of the nine on their roster.
"We'll definitely be the hunted," Nature Coast Head Coach Dan Murphy said. "But the hunted is ready. Personally I feel if we can come together like I want us to come together, we'll come together and be the hunted all season. We're ready to continue with the reigns."
Murphy, last year's county Coach of the Year, returns the county's defending Player of the Year, junior outside/middle hitter Alex Livengood.
Livengood is joined by six seniors, including All-County reps Kayla Bailey in the middle and Randi Roppolo on the outside. The only newcomer is freshman outside hitter Courtney Liddle, a standout at Challenger K-8.
Murphy said his team is pushing to get past the first round of regionals, where the Lady Sharks have lost four straight seasons.
"I think our biggest strength is this group of girls has played consistently for three solid years," Murphy said. "They've played together. They're a hungry group. They've wanted it from their freshman year to be a strong team and they've worked on it from their freshman year on."

District competition

Two other county teams will compete against Nature Coast in 4A-8, including a Hernando High squad hoping to bounce back from an uneven 13-12 campaign.
Third-year Head Coach Cristi Charlow has an almost entirely new roster, with just two returnees: senior outside hitter Breanna Conner and junior middle hitter Shelby Stocker.
"I think we'll be strong this year and we'll definitely be a strong team next year," Charlow said. "Our girls, they have high expectations.
"…I'm just interested to see how we're going to do this season. I think the district can be anyone's game this year."
Springstead High has a new coach in Darcy Hinton, who will attempt to turnaround the perennially downtrodden program.
The Lady Eagles went 3-16 in 2007 and essentially have an entirely new team aside from senior outside hitter Jen Stevens.
"We are excited about our potential as a team," Hinton said. "This team has an amazing personality. They are exceedingly happy when they show up to practice. They work very hard at learning the game and love every minute of it. This team is special.
"…This combination of personalities is becoming a family, and each member of our family has committed to the new set of standards that will define Springstead volleyball for years to come."
Central High, which competes in 5A-7, conversely returns the great majority of last season's 7-19 club and has added several young standouts to go along with the power frontline of junior Quynn Fonseca and senior twins Amanda and Blair Morris.
Last Thursday the Lady Bears took a game from 4A-8 powerhouse Hudson High after sweeping district foe Land O' Lakes in a preseason event, boosting the expectations of fifth-year Head Coach Vicki Weaver.
"I think the intelligence, there's only one lower than a 3.5 (GPA), that translates in game situations," Weaver said. "I think this team is smart. They react quickly. They're strong.
"…After (Thursday) night I think we've got a chance to make a run at the district title. After last night seeing what was out there, I think we're at least as good as everyone in the district."
At Hernando Christian Academy, a 1A-3 team coming off a 12-8 2007, Head Coach Sue Murphy has a young bunch of her own with only one senior, All-County middle/outside hitter Jackie Butler.
"I think once we start competing we'll start jelling," Murphy said. "We're young but they have a lot of enthusiasm and desire. I think we'll do pretty well."

CENTRAL LADY BEARS
Head coach: Vicki Weaver (5th year)
District: 5A-7
2007 record: 7-19 (2-6 5A-7, lost in district semifinals)
Key losses: Amy Mihok
Key returnees: Quynn Fonseca (Jr., MH); Amanda Morris (Sr., OH), Blair Morris (Sr., OH), Mena Petro (Sr., DS), Carly Territo (Jr, Libero), Brooke Wardlow (So., MH), Angela Wooster (Sr., Setter).
Key newcomers: Sami Berberette (So., DS), Tikiera Relaford (So., OH).
Coach's outlook: "I really think that their focus is number one, a winning record. Number two, we don't want to finish any lower than second in the district. We want to get first or second and go on to regional play. That's definitely in the realm of possibility for these girls."

HERNANDO LADY LEOPARDS
Head coach: Cristi Charlow (3rd year)
District: 4A-8
2007 record: 13-12 (4-4 4A-8, lost in district semifinals)
Key losses: Casey Davidson, Katie Geiger, April Griffey, Ari Lowman, Jordan Platt.
Key returnees: Breanna Conner (Sr., OH), Shelby Stocker (Jr. MH).
Key newcomers: Brittany Hill (So., MH), Kristen Jones (Fr., Setter), Malea Kalina (So., OH), Katie Killingsworth (Jr., Setter), Liz Lawrence (Jr., OH), Demi Maldonado (Sr., DS), Erica Maldonado (Sr., DS).
Coach's outlook: "I think we'll be strong this year and we'll definitely be a strong team next year. Our girls, they have high expectations."

HERNANDO CHRISTIAN LADY LIONS
Head coach: Sue Murphy (4th year)
District: 1A-3
2007 record: 12-8 (7-3 1A-3, lost in district semifinals)
Key losses: Cassi Byrne, Danielle Kuka, Mary Ellen Langley.
Key returnees: Audrey Allen (Jr., Setter/Hitter), Jackie Butler (Sr., MH/OH), Madeline Hanshaw (So., OH).
Key newcomers: Brielle Knight (Fr., OH), Madison Manuel (Jr., OH), Remi Manuel (Fr., Setter/Hitter).
Coach's outlook: "The big thing we're hoping to accomplish this year is continue to get better. We have such a young team. They're going to get better and better and improve their skills. Because of their outlook and attitude, I think that will carry us pretty far."

NATURE COAST LADY SHARKS
Head coach: Dan Murphy (2nd year)
District: 4A-8
2007 record: 20-6 (7-1 4A-8, won district championship, lost in regional quarterfinals)
Key losses: Emily Brockhoff, Mackenzie Mackert, Lauren Wajerski, Kaitlin Wadsworth.
Key returnees: Kayla Bailey (Sr., MH), Kelsey Bolesta (Sr., Setter/OH), Lindsey Carper (Sr., OH), Cherrisa Coscia (Sr., Libero/DS), Alex Livengood (Jr., OH/MH), Rachel Powell (Jr., Setter/OH), Randi Roppolo (Sr., OH/Setter), Rebecka Webster (Sr., DS/Libero).
Key newcomers: Courtney Liddle (Fr., OH).
Coach's outlook: "It depends on how the team responds but the bottom line I think we have the capability, if the girls step up and play as a team I think we can go deep into states, real deep into states."

SPRINGSTEAD LADY EAGLES
Head coach: Darcy Hinton (1st year)
District: 4A-8
2007 record: 3-16 (2-6 4A-8, lost in district quarterfinals)
Key losses: Jackie Holtje, Mary Martin, Chrissy Martin, Jen Knoer, Alyson Wagoner.
Key returnees: Jen Stevens (Sr., OH)
Key newcomers: Jaydilee Rivera Castro (Jr., OH), Michelle DeJesus (So., Setter), Maria Garcia (So., OH/MH), Kelsey Heckman (So., OH), Megan Morrison (Fr., MH), Stefanie Pisano (Jr., MH).
Coach's outlook: "We are excited about our potential as a team. This team has an amazing personality. They are exceedingly happy when they show up to practice. They work very hard at learning the game and love every minute of it. This team is special."

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

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