When the Lions and Tigers get together in the gym with a net in between, the match is probably going to be ... a bear.
Looking for revenge for three girls volleyball matches last year against their rivals from up the road, Tohopekaliga High (1-2) couldn't pull out its match Wednesday against Lake Nona, dropping a 3-1 decision.
"You can talk about the revenge thing, but it went about as I expected," said THS Coach Eric Capestany, who is working to replace three graduated starters. "We weren't as dominant as we needed to be."
The Tigers were 22-3 last year -- all three losses came to Lake Nona; in the regular season, district tournament final and regional playoffs. Lake Nona (3-1) is also replacing some starters, and it looked like Toho would get the better of it Wednesday early, taking a 7-2 lead in the first set behind the hitting and blocking of Danna Aguilera, Ileana Rodriguez, Isabela Suarez and Sophie Bou,
But the Lions used a size advantage to score 23 of the next 33 points to win the first set, 25-17. The Tigers answered by matching the Lions point-for-point to pull out the second set, 25-23, but despite mostly solid play, the Tigers couldn't put together enough runs of points. Lake Nona pulled out the decisive sets, 25-20 and 25-23.
Toho, which swept Orange Belt Conference play last year, play their first two county matches in the wake of the Lake Nona loss. They host Celebration on Thursday and Harmony on Tuesday.
After that? Another shot at revenge -- the Lions and Tigers meet again Wednesday at Lake Nona.
"We know what adjustments we have to make, and a couple chances to put them in before we see them again," Capestany said.
Osceola (3-1), who opened the season with a tough five-set win over an impressive Oviedo side, continued a schedule of strong opponents Tuesday. Despite dropping the first two sets to Winter Park, the Kowboys (3-1) rallied to force a fifth set. The Wildcats took the match, 25-12, 25-21, 19-25, 19-25, 15-10.
For OHS, senior Kaitlyn Taylor had 16 kills, and freshman Cate Palmi had 24.
The Kowboys will play Oceanside Christian Academy (S.C.), Tallahassee Leon and South Fork in a tournament Friday. They;ll try to reach the bracket round on Saturday,
Gateway and St. Cloud played a five-set match Tuesday, with the Bulldogs taking the OBC match, 26-24, 20-25, 25-16, 25-21. Senior setter tallied 37 assists in leading a balanced St. Cloud attack.
