Gorman giving time, experience to Booker

SARASOTA - Little did Melinda Gorman know when she played her last collegiate volleyball match in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals last December that she’d be coaching a match against DeSoto County High nine months later.

The plan was, and still is, a career in one of Europe’s pro leagues.

The plan Thursday night for Gorman’s newly inherited Booker Tornadoes was to simply survive. Or maybe even improve.

Booker, in a shambles since winning three consecutive district championships when Gorman played there (2002-04), was no match for the visiting Bulldogs, who rolled to a 25-11, 25-12, 25-12 victory. DeSoto, last year’s Class 4A state runnerup, has eight straight district titles and is 104-21 since Gorman starred for the Tornadoes.

“I had a long talk with the team (Wednesday) on the way to Port Charlotte,” said Gorman, who led Nova Southeastern to a 24-12 record last fall and had 13 kills against Truman State in her final match in St. Paul, Minn. “I asked them, ‘Do you honestly think you can win?’

“Not one girl raised her hand. That’s got to change.” orman, 22, has told her team she is a one-year coach, but already there are signs — albeit, very small ones — of improvement.

Sophomore Cherlinda Polynice, one of four underclassmen in the lineup, had six digs and two blocks. Kylie Connor, likely the team’s most polished player, had three kills, while setter Danielle Dygert added six assists and a kill.

“We really like (Gorman),”said Connor, a 5-foot-10 junior. “She’s helped us improve. We’re trying to get all we can learn from her, so next year we can show (the next coach) that we’ve gotten better.”

Booker (0-6 overall, 0-2 in Class 3A-District 11) fell behind 14-3 and 11-3 in the first two games, but got as close as 17-11 in the third against many of DeSoto’s reserves.

Amanda Mercer led the Bulldogs (4-0, 2-0) with 14 kills, and was backed by strong efforts from Chloe Boehm (18 assists, seven aces), Shelby Flint (six kills) and Jennifer Velasco (five aces). All but Velasco are returning starters.

“I expect a lot,”Gorman said. “If I didn’t, the girls won’t expect anything from themselves. They have it in them, but right now, it’s one in every 15 points.”

BLAZERS PREVAIL
SARASOTA -- Sarasota Christian (2-2 overall, 1-1 in Class 1A-District 10) lost to Southwest Florida Christian of Fort Myers 25-18, 25-22, 25-17, 25-13.

Senior setter Emily Bradshaw led the Blazers with seven service points.

Sarasota Christian will visit Seacrest Country Day of Naples tonight.

Mooney now 5-0

BRADENTON -- Cardinal Mooney continued its winning streak as it downed district rival Southeast in three straight games.

The Lady Cougars (5-0) neverlet the Lady Seminoles in the match as they won 25-19, 25-16, 25-22.

Senior Genny Casagrande had 13 kills for Cardinal Mooney. Freshman Sarah Soscia had 13 digs and senior Erin Mooney had six kills, eight digs and eight blocks.

B.C. still unbeaten

ST. PETERSBURGH -- Bradenton Christian improved to 4-0 beating Pinellas Park High School 25-24, 25-15 at the 26th Annual Keswick Invitational on Thursday.

Maria DeKuiper had six kills and four blocks while Abi VanOstenbridge had six kills, eight assists, and five aces. Ashley Deal had six assists for the Panthers.