Plant! Plant! Plant! … Plant! Plant! Plant!    Even as the Venice High School volleyball team prepares for another regional final match with Tampa Plant High School, echoes of the Panthers’ student section still ring in the Indians’ heads.

Juniors Dorothy Rahal, Jillian Allen, Taylor Capasso and Whitney Steranko were there to experience the 25-9 beating in game four that sparked a fivegame regional final loss to the Panthers in 2007. The rest of this year’s senior-less team is entirely new, which might just be a good thing.

Stage set for Venice-Plant showdown

“We’re playing with a lot of confidence,” said Venice head coach Brian Wheatley. “Our kids think they can beat anybody right now.”  ever mind that Plant (26-3) returns five of six starters from a year ago, a season that ended with a Class 5A state title. Never mind that they replaced their Duke University setter with junior transfer Becca Howard, who was selected third-team All-State in Class 3A at Tampa Berkeley Preparatory School last season. This team actually thinks it can win.

“It will be a colossal upset,” said Venice junior outside hitter Emily Daniels.    Venice (22-8) has come a long way since August. Back at the outset of the season, Wheatley questioned this team’s effort. He started giving out grades on a one-to-10 scale based on effort in practice.

“Some of those scores were pretty low and these kids are used to getting all A’s all the time,” he said. “The scores are up there now.”

It’s a good thing, because the Indians face their biggest challenge yet Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Teepee. The winner advances to the FHSAA Class 5A State Semifinals. The loser packs it in and waits until next season. It’s going to take a colossal effort to pull off the colossal upset that Daniels spoke of.

“All I know is we’re playing at our highest level right now,” Wheatley said. “I think that’s really all a coach can ask for.”
tmiller@venicegondolier.com