Believe It! Springstead Beats Hernando

The Springstead High rebuilding project under first-year Head Coach Darcy Hinton hit two major milestones Thursday night.

The host Lady Eagles pulled out a rare victory over county-rival Hernando High, 25-13, 10-25, 25-20, 25-18, to notch their 10th win of the season.

"They're excited about the win," Hinton said. "We were working on some issues on the court. They're beginning to feel pride in wearing that jersey and I think that's what led to the win."

Serving success

Springstead (10-11) scored a combined 16 points the two times Jaydilee Rivera Castro served in the opening game, first going ahead 7-3, then tallying 10 straight points to end it.

The junior Castro had six aces in the game, while Carly Wiggins added two blocks and eight kills, including the game-winner.

However, Hernando (5-14) dominated the second game, holding Springstead to just one offensive point and receiving four kills and a block from Brittany Hill, who sealed things landing a spike.

The third game was far more competitive, though at one point the Lady Leopards held a 12-4 edge. The Lady Eagles tied and took a 19-18 lead on a back-to-back Castro aces.

Allyson Schillinger served three points and Maria Garcia notched her own game-winning kill.

The serving of Castro again proved a difference-maker in the fourth. She served seven straight with three aces to turn a 15-13 deficit into a 20-15 advantage.

"She was all cheered up and had her team cheer for her, and she focused on the serve," said Garcia, translating for Castro, a Puerto Rico native. "It was great because we wanted to beat them."

"I call the serves and tonight I let her go," Hinton said. "I let her decide where to serve to and she took off and ran with it. She saw a weakness and exploited it. That's what makes her a great player."

Third-year Hernando Head Coach Cristi Charlow, who played four years for the Lady Leopards before graduating in 2003, couldn't recall a time when her team lost to the normally downtrodden Lady Eagles.

"The girls knew (Castro) was hitting deep but I guess it moved every time she served. She's a good server," Charlow said. "Number three (Michelle DeJesus), she's good, too. She's their strong hitter. She seemed to get us every time."

DeJesus finished with eight kills, just behind Wiggins' match-high 10. Wiggins chipped in five blocks. Hill paced the Lady Leopards with eight kills and seven blocks.

Both teams are in the stretch run before the Class 4A, District 8 Tournament starting Oct. 27 at Wiregrass Ranch High.

"We've done the best we can to get them ready for it," Hinton said. "We're going to do whatever we do. We're taking a long-term view here but we are competitors. We're going to fight in every match."

SPRINGSTEAD 3, HERNANDO 0
1 2 3 4
HER 13 25 20 18
SPG 25 10 25 25
Records: Hernando (5-14), Springstead (10-11).