The Butler Does It

OCALA --

Hernando Christian Academy's lone senior, Jackie Butler, was hoping to extend her prep volleyball career Monday evening in Marion County.

Butler did her part in the opening match of the Class 1A, District 3 Tournament at St. John Lutheran blasting 17 a game-high kills while connecting on 20-of-21 serves for 22 points to enable the No. 5 seed Lady Lions to eliminate No. 4 seed First Academy of Leesburg, 25-20, 19-25, 25-17, 25-18.

"We haven't played in over a week," explained the 17-year-old Butler. "Usually we come out strong and kinda crumble in the middle. That's what we did again tonight."

How'd the team do?

"Even though we hadn't played in a while," said Butler, "We passed well and looked sharp. I thought we all played great at the net. I know for me this was a huge match. I want to extend my season as long as we can. We're all playing like it's our last match."

Rubber match

HCA and First Academy split the regular season series.

In fact, The Lake County Lady Eagles had swept the Lions in three sets in Brooksville on Sept. 18, before HCA needed five grueling sets to capture the rematch in Leesburg on Sept. 30.

In other 1A-3 quarterfinal, No. 3 seed St. John Lutheran (13-11) swept No. 6 seed Cedar Key (1-13), 25-18, 25-16, 25-12.

With the win, HCA will face No. 1 seed Lecanto-Seven Rivers Christian on Tuesday in Marion County at 4 p.m. followed by No. 2 seed Meadowbrook Academy tangling with host St. John Lutheran at 6 p.m.

Not alone

As HCA improved to 13-14, Butler was the catalyst but she was not alone.

The Lady Lions, who connected on 83-of-93 (89 percent) from the service line, had four players finish in double figures.

Butler wasn't even the match's leading scorer.

HCA frosh Remi Manuel led all scorers with 25 points, converting 24-of-25 service attempts. Juniors Audrey Allen and Madison Manuel added 17 and 13 points respectively.

"I thought we played real strong for not playing in a week," added the 15-year-old Manuel.

"I thought we played sharp," added the 16-year-old Allen. "It feels great to win."

For the Eagles, senior Rachel Frazier converted 20-of-22 serves for 22 points while senior Shannon Holmes and junior heather Garrett each tallied 15 points. Senior setter Caulene Hudson, who played a fine all-round match, added 12 points on a perfect 12-of-12 serving.

Despite being eliminated, First Academy Head Coach Sheldon Walker called the season a success.

"Overall? We fought hard," described the fifth-year skipper. "We've been known to fall asleep in the beginning (of matches), but we played hard."

Positives?

"I have four seniors I'm gonna say goodbye to that when they started with us served the ball underhand," he gleamed. "We've come a long ways. This is the best season (11-11) we've ever had. We had a bunch of young ladies that weren't necessarily volleyball players, but who all worked hard."

What about HCA?

"They're a tremendous team," said Walker. "We've been kinda modeling our program's success to them and St. John Lutheran."

CLASS 1A, DISTRICT 3 VOLLEYBALL RECAP

10-27:

HCA (13-14) def. First Academy of Leesburg (11-11), 25-20, 19-25, 25-17, 25-18

St. John Lutheran (13-11) def. Cedar Key (1-13), 25-18, 25-16, 25-12.

10-28 (Semifinals);

HCA vs. Lecanto-Seven Rivers, 4 p.m.

St. John Lutheran vs. Meadowbrook Academy, 6 p.m.

HCA 3, FIRST ACADEMY OF LEESBURG 1

1 2 3 4

HCA 25 19 25 25