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Strawberry Crest notches a region volleyball breakthrough

The Chargers, who are “used to coming from behind" this season, win their first playoff match.
 
Volleyball teams around Tampa Bay are in region playoff action this week.
Volleyball teams around Tampa Bay are in region playoff action this week. [ SCOTT PURKS | Special to the Times ]
Published Oct. 24, 2019

DOVER — Strawberry Crest and Viera brought strikingly similar backgrounds into their Class 6A region volleyball quarterfinal on Wednesday.

The schools opened only three years apart — Strawberry Crest in 2009 and Viera in 2006. And both volleyball teams had 0-5 records in previous postseason action, losing 30 of a combined 31 sets.

Something had to give . . . and it was the Chargers who took home their first region victory.

The moxie that Strawberry Crest fourth-year coach Gina Giunta has instilled in her team was needed throughout as Strawberry Crest, two points away from elimination in the final set, prevailed 3-2 (25-27, 20-25, 25-23, 25-23, 15-13). The No. 4-seeded Chargers (11-11), who had won only one set in region play before, took the final three sets against fifth-ranked Viera (21-8).

Kassidy Bolling, a 5-foot-11 senior hitter and verbal commit to Sante Fe College in Gainesville, ensured her Chargers would be playing in next week’s region semifinals. Trailing 13-11 in the fifth set, three Bolling kills and a service winner by Madison O’Connor finished off the Hawks.

The final point of the two-hour, 29-minute thriller was a golden moment for Bolling, whose slam to the left side of the court was not returned.

"It felt amazing, because (the set) came from my best friend, Aiden (Harris),” Bolling said. “She set it, and I killed it.

"It is amazing to win with these group of girls that I’ve known forever, playing with them on the court, and knowing you do your part in winning.”

Having to come from behind is nothing new for Strawberry Crest, which started the season with an 1-8 record before putting together its current seven-match win steak — highlighted by its second consecutive district title.

“We’re a team that essentially comes from behind,” Giunta said. “It was amazing that we were ahead (in the first set). But we’re used to coming from behind . . . . We practice that a lot."

Strawberry Crest blew an 18-10 lead in the first set, and a Lauren Lewis kill gave Viera its first winning set in school history. The Chargers’ hitting and passing errors began to mount up as they fell two sets behind.

Sophomore outside hitter Lillian Lee sparked Strawberry Crest in the third set as it took three five-point leads, the last one at 21-16. After Viera rallied to tie the score at 22, the Chargers closely strongly to win on a Harris kill.

“I just thought we’re not going to lose it. . . . We can’t, we’ve got this” Lee said. “We have so much more to go through. We’re doing it for the seniors. We’re going to keep pushing it until we can’t anymore."

The fourth set was tight all the way before a Bolling kill forced the decisive set.

In the final set, Strawberry Crest was locked in a 9-all tie when Viera scored four of the next six points to go up 13-11. They were the Hawks’ final points as the Bolling-led Chargers rallied to win.

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“This is a team that grows every step,” Giunta said. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, we’re at our max.’ They have grown and they keep growing.

"The same with No. 14, Kassidy. She just steps up, she keeps a positive attitude, she just stays in it, and that’s what I love about her. She smiles all the time. She tries not to let things get her down.

“I’m ecstatic (with the first region victory). I’m so proud of all of the girls, every single one of them. It’s an incredible team and we’re ready to move forward to the next (match), and surprise everybody.”

Strawberry Crest will play at No. 1 Winter Springs on Tuesday.