Tarpons no match for Sharks height

PUNTA GORDA -- The Charlotte High girls volleyball team dropped its district opener Tuesday night in straight sets to the undefeated Gulf Coast Sharks.

The feisty young Tarpons (3-2, 0-1 District 5A-12) simply couldn't match up with a significantly taller and more experienced Gulf Coast team. The Sharks (9-0, 1-0) prevailed 25-18, 25-12, 25-21.

"It's tough playing teams that are way taller than you, but we've just got to go in and be more aggressive," Tarpons coach Michelle Dill said. "We just kind of got shell shocked."

Charlotte, which prominently features six sophomores with just one senior, actually hung with Gulf Coast most of Game 1.

The Tarpons even initiated a 5-1 run to tie the game at 15-all. But the Sharks responded with a 10-3 run to close out the game. Charlotte again hung tough early in Game 8 but after an 8-8 start Gulf Coast closed with another impressive run, 17-4.

While the Tarpons never truly threatened in Game 3, they also fought to the final point before losing 25-21.

"They're really scrappy; they play really good defense," Gulf Coast coach Christy Wright said. "They dug us pretty well. We kept setting the ball off the net and we needed to put the ball down. When we hit it deep they were right there digging it. É The only way to stop a good defense is to hit it down in front of them and they can't dig it."

The Sharks were led by 6-foot outside hitter Holly Reschke, who finished with 14 kills and has numerous Division I scholarship offers. The Tarpons, who average roughly 5-6, were seemingly powerless to stop Reschke. The fact Gulf Coast featured six players taller than 5-10 didn't help matters.

"We have four girls that are 6-foot," Wright said. "It's a huge advantage."

The Tarpons were without middle blocker Abbie Conde due to strep throat. The sophomore also will miss today's match against Cape Coral, but should be available when the Tarpons travel to Gulf Coast for a rematch Monday.

Three sophomores -- Janhea Beisner, Alexis Jones and Taylor Mack led Charlotte with five kills each Tuesday. Mack also had a team-high seven digs, while Beisner chipped in six and two aces.