By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

If the Harmony Longhorns volleyball team had some drama in store, they saved it for the win-or-go-home portion of the schedule.

In Tuesday's Region 2 quarterfinal, the 4A District 6 champions dominated early but watched as Gainesville Eastside stormed back into the match. But host Harmony turned back into champions late, winning the match 25-15, 25-16, 20-25, 19-25, 15-7.

Harmony will host Ocala Vanguard in Tuesday's regional semifinal at 7 p.m.

The Longhorns attack was led up front by senior Robin Janney (19 kills) and juniors Marie Gilbert (12) and Alicia Palm (9 kills, 5 blocks).

Gilbert said that she was confident that her team would find a fifth game like it did when forced to did down deep.

"In the fifth game our emotions were high and we knew we needed that," she said. "They showed us a challenge, we knew at this point nobody just sends anyone home in three (games). We're a strong team and we play for each other."

HHS Coach Eric Trowbridge said that while his team essentially gave the third game away, the visiting Rams played like a team fighting to survive and took the fourth game.

"We fully expected a battle, but we made 44 unforced errors tonight," he said. "Momentum is everything, but we knew it wouldn't be as easy as it was in the first game. Before the last game I told my seniors not to let it be the last 15 points they'd play."

See Saturday's Osceola News-Gazette for a full story.

In other county action, Gateway, the 6A District 6 runner-up, lost in three games to Olympia.