Shorecrest advances to Class 4A final four
Source/Author: By Chuck Frye, Tampa Bay Times
October 31, 2018
A quick check of Shorecrest's MaxPreps page doesn't yield much information. No statistics, no highlight videos, just the names of the players. Not even any uniform numbers.
Rookie coach Raquel Ferreira said that lack of a working knowledge of the website kept her from posting those numbers, but she was just as tight-fisted after Tuesday night's 3-1 Class 4A region final victory over Calvary Christian.
"The entire team does the job," she said post-match, perusing her stat sheets without giving up the numbers, not wanting to highlight any one player over the others. "Basically, we don't have a bench. Everyone is fully confident and can do the job."
The Chargers' record (20-3) takes away much of the surprise, plus this was the third time Shorecrest and Calvary met this year, but advance notice really wouldn't reveal the X factor of the squad: playing to the best of its ability without letting the pressure of the moment overwhelm the players.
"From (Ferreira) to our club coaches, we train every day to be mentally strong especially for those games that come down to the wire," said sophomore libero Julia Craig.
Whether sprinting out to mid-set leads, as was done in victories on the first two sets (25-19, 25-17), Shorecrest didn't expose a weakness. A powerful front line of senior Jacqueline St. Cin, Chaise Campbell and Annabel Happ gave the Warriors (19-8) fits by itself, but Craig, Kirsten Price and Ashlee Burkett provided a staunch backline that not only dug out potential Calvary winners but did so in a way that kept the offense flowing smoothly.
Such was the case on the point of the night, one where the Chargers thwarted several Warrior attacks via lunging digs from Happ and Craig as well as three huge blocks from Campbell to win the second set on senior Jacqueline Perry's crushing left-side kill.
"We have to be ready for anything and we know that the team is going to be there for us," Happ said. "(Coach Ferreira) really emphasizes for us to stay disciplined and focused on our side of the net. It doesn't matter what they do, react and play our game."
To its credit, Calvary, which beat Shorecrest in its two 2018 meetings with a five-match overall streak, shook off the loss of an early four-point lead in the third set to prevail. Junior setter Jennafer Long (42 assists, eight digs) teed up senior Jadyn Showers (seven kills, two blocks) for three big kills as part of a late 7-1 run, while kills from junior Cathryn Long (20 kills) and senior Madelyn Gilmet (seven kills) kept the Warriors alive, 25-19.
"We struggled with our side-out efficiency," Calvary Christian coach Kim Whitney said. "(Tuesday night) it was .396 and usually it's around .500. That had a lot to do with Shorecrest's defense and transition game. They got to a lot of balls, dug a lot and blocked well. They played very well."
After 11 ties in Set 3, the squads deadlocked five times in the fourth before Shorecrest took charge. Craig drove a pair of deep aces as part of a four-point serving run while four St. Cin kills jacked the Chargers' lead up to 20-13. Three return winners from Long inched the Warriors back within three but two kills and a block from Campbell brought a close to play with a 25-22 decision.
"Part of the reason I came here was to have girls that would work hard and commit to a goal of making States," Whitney said. "This year's group did a little better than last year's, and, while filling eight spots (for graduating seniors), now it's our turn for next year's squad to do better than this year."
And for Shorecrest, with a journey on November 10 to face 2017 state semifinalist Providence School in the 4A final four, continuing its hot play remains key.
"We have to maintain our conditioning, keep our mental consistency which is difficult with high school athletes," said Ferreira, looking to convey that message gained through her experience as a former professional beach volleyball player. "We hope to be able to do that, stay at our peak physically and mentally."
View the original story here: https://www.tampabay.com/sports/high-schools/2018/10/30/region-volleyball-shorecrest-advances-to-class-4a-final-four/
View the original story here: https://www.tampabay.com/sports/high-schools/2018/10/30/region-volleyball-shorecrest-advances-to-class-4a-final-four/
