Lady Sailors' season ends in region semis

By Jen Blanco
| 5:00 a.m. November 6, 2014

The Sarasota High volleyball team celebrates following its 26-24 victory over Lakewood Ranch in the second set. It was the first time the Lady Sailors won a set against the Lady Mustangs all season.

Sarasota
Neighbors

The Sarasota High volleyball team saw its season come to an end with a 3-1 loss to Lakewood Ranch in the Class 7A-Region 3 semifinals Nov. 4.

After losing the first set 25-14, the district runner-up Lady Sailors rebounded to take the second set 26-24. It was the first time Sarasota had won a set against Lakewood all season.

The Lady Sailors had their chances in the third and fourth sets, but ultimately fell 25-14 and 25-20.

“We had a lot of confidence that we could take it in five. We just missed out on some opportunities,” coach Chad Sutton says. “Lakewood Ranch is a great team. That’s no shock. We knew that.”

Junior outside hitter Jessica Shiffner finished with 14 kills, 11 digs and eight service points to lead the way for Sarasota. Senior middle blocker Toni Mogensen added nine kills and two blocks. Sophomore opposite hitter Hannah Hritz contributed 10 kills, one ace and five digs. Senior outside hitter Jordan Brooks finished with 11 digs, six kills, three blocks and seven service points.

Sarasota advanced to the regional semifinals, setting up a rematch of the district championship game with Lakewood, after knocking off Seminole 3-2 in an epic five-set regional quarterfinal match Oct. 29.

“We talked a lot about going to Seminole with a purpose and coming back here to redeem ourselves,” Sutton says. “We talked a lot about fighting every point. You aren’t going to be perfect. It’s just about the fight that matters. So as long as they are in it to win it then they’ll have the opportunities, and we did. We just fell short.”

With the loss, Sarasota finished the season with a 20-9 record. It also marked the final game in a Sarasota uniform for Brooks, Mogensen, Lawrence and Sarah Pifer.