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Hernando Today

An Eventful Split

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Parrott’s Caitlin Bainum, who finished with 10 points, serves against Challenger K-8 Monday night in Spring Hill. The Lady Leopards clinched the junior varsity portion of the Hernando County Middle School Athletic Conference volleyball title with its ninth win in nine matches, 25-15, 16-25, 17-15.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: September 30, 2008

SPRING HILL - One team clinched a county championship, another took a huge step toward repeating Monday night at Challenger K-8.
Visiting Parrott Middle School's junior varsity volleyball team clinched the county championship with its ninth win in nine matches by edging Challenger (7-2), 25-15, 16-25, 17-15.
In the varsity nightcap, the host Navigators took a quantum step toward repeating as champs by solving pesky Parrott (4-5) in three sets, 25-13, 18-25, 15-9.
Behind Monday's win, Challenger will have to defeat West Hernando Thursday night to clinch a share of the varsity county championship with Fox Chapel.

We are the champions!

In the earlier JV match, Head Coach Stacy McCalla's Leopards converted 48-of-58 serves to sweep the seasonal series against the Navigators.
The Purple and Gold was paced by Arianna Tankersley's 14 points on 16-of-17 serving. Sierra Cannon added 11 markers while Caitlin Bainum added 10 points for the champs.
"My knees were knocking," smiled the 12-year-old Tankersley, who served match point. "All I wanted to do was serve like I do in practice.
"I'm incredibly happy right now," she added. "I want to thank God and Coach McCalla for us to get this far."
"Coach kept telling us to control our passes," recalled the 11-year-old Cannon. This (win) was awesome. This was by far our toughest game all year."
"It was evenly matched all the way," summed up Coach McCalla. "I thought the key was we stayed cool and collected, even when they (Challenger) came back on us."
What were the ultimate keys to success?
"We never cut corners," she added. "This group worked their tails off and they liked each other and covered for one another. This was the ultimate team. We have one more match left. For the girls, I hope they can finish unbeaten. I want perfection for them."
From the home sideline, the Navigators suffered 11 service errors.
Rebecca Laing led the hosts with a perfect 12-for-12 effort worth 12 points.
McKenzie Cummings added nine markers while Samantha Bishop, Erin Moynihan and Madison Whitmill each chipped in eight points.
"Our serving was off and we let too many balls drop at crucial times," lamented Challenger Coach Karen Jones. "Still, I'm extremely proud of how this team competed tonight."

One win away

Challenger, which went 10-0 in the varsity level last fall, survived Monday night despite an uncharacteristic 11 service errors (47-of-58 overall).
Courtney Skinner paced the hosts with 13 points while Sierra Ruiz added 12 markers.
"I think we got a little too over confident after we won the first set," said the 12-year-old Ruiz. "This was a big win. I know I can play better, so can the team. We've got West Hernando next. They'll be ready for us on Thursday." "This was a big win. I know I can play better, so can the team. We've got West Hernando next. They'll be ready for us on Thursday."
Challenger Head Coach Patti Martin shrugged at her team's lackadaisical play.
"Our serves were horrible; our attacks were terrible," she commented. "Winning is not as important as playing our best ball. We didn't do that tonight, but we still won.
"We've got one match left, but we're expecting West Hernando to be ready Thursday night."
From the visitors' sideline, Parrott lost despite converting a match-high 40-of-46 serves (87 percent). The Leopards were paced by Ebone Plummer's 11 points followed by Ashley Sims (10) and Nicole Cicero (9 points).
"We lost, but I'm very proud of this team," admitted Parrott Head Coach Valerie Curren. "We came from behind a made it a match. It felt good to win one game from these guys. They beat us a couple years ago, 25-0."

Varsity: Challenger 2, Parrott 1
1 2 3
Parrott 13 25 9
Challenger 25 18 15
Records – Parrott (4-5 overall), Challenger (8-1 overall).

Junior Varsity: Parrott 2, Challenger 1
1 2 3
Parrott 25 16 17
Challenger 15 25 15
Records – Parrott (9-0 overall), Challenger (7-2 overall).

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

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