DeLand High volleyballers host Mandarin

By Roger Gilmore
Beacon Sports Editor

posted Oct 30, 2009 - 5:09:59pm

The District 2-6A volleyball-champion DeLand Lady Bulldogs (25-3) will be hosting the Jacksonville Mandarin Lady Mustangs (15-10) in The Doghouse at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the regional quarterfinals.

Excitement and happiness ruled The Doghouse Thursday night, when they defeated the Spruce Creek Lady Hawks (16-10) to snap a long wait for the district crown.

Veteran DeLand Head Coach Deb Rawlins always has her team in the running for the honor, but the last time the DHS girls served as the District 2-6A hosts was in 2000, although they have earned runner-up honors several times, and played in the regional tournament.

With 25 victories, this is one of the best-balanced teams the Lady Bulldogs have produced. Oddly enough, there is only one senior on the team in Olivia Van Deusen, who was also recently named the DHS Homecoming Queen at the football game in Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in the win over the Pine Ridge Panthers.

Van Deusen helped spark the 25-17, 27-25, 25-13 victory over Spruce Creek, as she was credited with 35 assists. The second game of the match was pretty well the key to the match, as the hosts staged a solid rally to claim the 27-25 win.

Power at the net was another key factor, as junior Shellie Robinson banged home 17 kills, and sophomore Lauren Apetz contributed 12. However, all the Lady Bulldogs made key efforts, as they have all season.

Here's a rundown of most of the other teams that will be in action Wednesday around the state. Some spots were not announced at this writing. Most of the teams have their records listed; however, there are a few that were not.

A DeLand win over Mandarin will send them against the victor of the Orange Park (15-12) and Spruce Creek (16-10) match at 7 p.m. Nov. 10. Not sure about the location.

The other teams: Oviedo (25-3), Winter Park (22-6), Winter Springs (14-11), Boca Raton (20-7), Coral Springs (13-9), Parkland Douglas (16-6), Jupiter (19-8), Hollywood Hills (15-7), Weston Cypress Bay, Pembroke Pines, West Broward, Plantation (14-6), Orlando Dr. Phillips (24-2), Kissimmee Gateway (12-10), Vero Beach (20-2), Orlando Olympia (20-7), Brandon (19-6), Tampa Plant (24-1), Miami Dr. Krop (21-2), Miami Coral Park, Hialeah and Miami Coleman (12-8).

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