2009 Top 10

Adversity can hit a team at the worst possible time.

That's why it's adversity.

And for Joy Becker's Leon volleyball team, state championship week is no different.

Becker had to disinfect the Lions' locker room as a result of players battling illnesses.

"It's like the walking wounded," Becker said. "Hopefully it makes us stronger."

Senior middle hitter Taylor Vaughn was sick on Saturday when Leon played for the Region 1-5A championship at Niceville.

"I asked how she was doing and Taylor looked at me and said, 'Well, my throat's worse,'" Becker said. "And then she had this little smile and said, 'Oh, well.'"

The Lions defeated an unbeaten Niceville team 3-0 to clinch the regional championship and another chance at a state championship.

This Leon team is already well acquainted with the Lakeland Center, as the Lions will be playing in their fourth straight final four.

Leon was the Class 5A runner-up in 2007 after playing Tampa Plant for the state title. Last year, the Lions didn't make it past the state semifinals, falling to Lake Howell in four sets.

There's no doubt Leon's six seniors — Vaughn, Alex Johnson, Caldwell Nystrom, Marcella Desloge, Molly Pearce and Callie Watkins — feel the urgency to get it done their final season together.

The first step is beating Venice in the 5A semifinals tonight at 6. The winner will play for the championship Thursday night.

"I'm nervous," Becker said. "But anybody's nervous. All I know is history. As long as they can put their foot underneath them, they'll be on the court."

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