State-bound

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Only three players were on the Lakewood Ranch High volleyball team that advanced to the state semifinals in 2012.

Seniors Nicole Grant, Kelley Ainsworth and Erin O’Connell were on the court when the Lady Mustangs narrowly missed out on a chance to play for the school’s first state title, falling to St. Augustine in five sets.
They are the only ones left who remember the emotion, the intensity and the disappointment in what might have been.

Since then, Grant, Ainsworth and O’Connell have been focused on making their way back to the Final Four and finishing what they and their former teammates started two years ago.

After missing out on a second trip to the state semifinals last season, Lakewood took the court for its fourth-consecutive regional final appearance with something to prove.

The Lady Mustangs weren’t about to be denied.

Behind a tough defensive effort and Grant’s offensive prowess, Lakewood swept Fort Myers 25-19, 25-22, 25-22 in the Class 7A-Region 3 finals Nov. 8 on its home court.

“This moment means everything,” Grant says. “It’s really exciting. It proves how hard we work and how much we wanted it. This game really showed it.”

Without having played Fort Myers before, Lakewood relied on its knowledge of some of the Green Wave’s players through some of the Lady Mustangs players’ encounters with them during club and sand volleyball.

Lakewood coach Perri Hankins also used scouting reports and video to highlight Fort Myers’ hitters.

“There wasn’t an intimidation factor,” Hankins says. “That was good because they have some tough players.”

The combination of scrappy defense and setting up their blocks proved to be the perfect winning formula for the Lady Mustangs.

Sophomore libero Ande McDonald powered Lakewood’s back line with 16 digs. Grant finished with 16 kills, three blocks, nine digs and one ace. Sophomore Kahlee York added nine kills, 11 digs and one ace.

Coleen Campbell recorded four kills, three blocks and one ace. Senior setter Courtney Rapp dished out 33 assists and also had an ace.

With the win, the Lady Mustangs will face Winter Springs in the state semifinals at 1 p.m. Nov. 14. The winner will face the winner of the other state semifinal between Lutz Steinbrenner and St. Thomas Aquinas in the state championship at 1:05 p.m. Nov. 15.

“This team has a lot of good energy,” Grant says. “We all connect really well on and off the court, and that’s such an advantage. We’re really lucky we have that.”

Lakewood’s positive energy has been on display throughout the postseason. The Lady Mustangs, who are playing their best volleyball down the stretch, lost just one set throughout the regional tournament.

“I feel good because we’re getting better,” Hankins says. “This team is different. They are very bonded and calm on the court. They have great confidence and believe they are going to win.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].