St. Petersburg reaches first state semifinal in volleyball

ST. PETERSBURG — Reaching uncharted heights can be exhilarating for a program but presents new, more challenging problems, none more crucial than taking on increasingly talented teams with no true idea of how they play.Consider St. Petersburg, playing in its first region final Saturday. Standing in the Green Devils' way was a team they have never seen in Ocala Forest and an outstanding talent in Emma Truluck.The junior outside hitter’s reputation proceeded her, as expected of someone who already has committed to a prestigious program in Division II power University of Tampa. But respect for Truluck is amplified when one considers she is only eight months clear of a stroke suffered while attending a club volleyball weekend with her Ocala team and a mere five months post-surgery to repair the heart defect that caused the malady.To say Truluck recovered is an understatement as she is among the Wildcats' leaders in every stat category, and she continued that with a 23-kill, 23-dig effort against the Green Devils.But quality team play can neutralize a superstar, and while Truluck may have arguably been the best player on the court, St. Petersburg more than countered that with superb team play and a tense but impressive 25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 27-25 victory to earn a berth in next weekend’s Class 6A state semifinals.“I wanted Madelyn (Davis) to be on (Truluck) to block because she’s definitely a solid blocker,” said St. Petersburg coach Joe Abad. “I was trying to match them up together and (Madelyn) was definitely crucial.”Beyond her net work, delivering five blocks and 10 kills, Davis also delivered timely contributions. Three first-set kills broke open a 17-17 deadlock as the Green Devils (15-3) didn’t trail again in the set. After a commanding eight-point service run by sophomore Jordan Bunce opened the second-set door, Davis' kill and tip winner stopped resurgent Forest (16-1) from bursting through it.And when the Wildcats responded to an ankle injury to junior Emma Santi (11 kills and 16 digs) to win the third set and surge to a 16-13 advantage in the fourth, Madelyn Davis joined with junior Jenna Davis (14 kills and three blocks) and Bunce (13 kills, 15 digs and four aces) to right the ship.“I think everyone on this team is always giving their all,” Madelyn Davis said. “It just happens on rotations and how points are going back-and-forth who’s going to be in on those really big points.”From there, a kill from senior stalwart Kate Youmans (13 kills and two aces) gave St. Petersburg its third match point. With a service winner, Madelyn Davis locked up the trip to face Tallahassee Leon next Saturday in the final four.“It feels amazing,” Youmans said. “We’re so happy after four years together. Coach Joe helped us, he knows what to do and we know how to execute what he says.”“It was pointed out to me by a parent that (Saturday was) actually only our third match with our whole team,” Abad said. “We’ve had injuries and quarantines, so we were really focused on practice after (beating) East Lake (in the region semis) on taking care of our side of the net.”St. Petersburg will get another chance to work on its game as the oft-rescheduled Pinellas County Athletic Conference final will be played Wednesday against Osceola.“(Osceola) didn’t get to finish its season and I think it worked best for both schools and (Pinellas County athletic director) Al Bennett to have it Wednesday,” Abad said. “I’m fine with it. I think they’re a great team that will push us to get better and we’ll know even more what we need to do against high-caliber teams.”2A: Naples First Baptist 3, Tampa Bay HEAT 03A: Bishop McLaughlin 3, Sarasota Cardinal Mooney 14A: Holy Names 3, Weeki Wachee 05A: Ocala Vanguard 3, Fivay 05A: Robinson 3, Port Charlotte 16A: Fort Myers 3, Hillsborough 06A: St. Petersburg 3, Ocala Forest 17A: Plant 3, Vero Beach 1

St. Petersburg reaches first state semifinal in volleyball

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