The outcome was the same, but the outlook is much different.For the second consecutive season, Plant High School eliminated Venice High School from Class 5A state tournament contention in the Region 5A-3 finals. The Panthers beat the Indians 25-13, 23-25, 25-15, 25-15 Saturday afternoon in the Teepee.

“This is just the beginning for this team,” Venice head coach Brian Wheatley said. “It’s a happy day. I’m not saying goodbye to any seniors. This is just the beginning. We took it far. To make it to the elite eight in the toughest class in the state this year, we did great.”

This time last year was not such a happy occasion. Venice had just fallen to Plant in the regional finals. For six seniors, who had all won a state title together as sophomores, it was their final match in a Venice uniform. With no seniors on this squad, Venice has only to look to tomorrow.

Although some Venice players took the loss harder than others, junior Dorothy Rahal took it all in stride.

“Most of them are sad and crying and might be depressed for a couple weeks or so but, from my point of view we played a great game,” Rahal said. “We’re a young team and next year is a new day.”

Plant came out like a house of fire in game one. The Panthers led 6-1 before most of the Green-and-White faithful had settled into the bleachers. Plant totaled 15 team kills, led by Jordan Dickie with five.

Seven lead changes transpired in game two. Plant led 23-22, but a big-time kill from junior Jillian Allen tied the game. An unforced error and a back-row violation put Venice over the top.

Plant built solid leads early in each of the final two games as they coasted to 25-15 victories.

Venice errors helped the Panthers to the win but, in the end, Plant was simply the better team.

“We battled hard and we just lost to a better team tonight, no doubt about it,” Wheatley said. “We played tough and even our best might not have been good enough.”

Rahal led Venice with 15 kills. Allen and Emily Daniels finished with eight each. Autumn Duyn finished with five kills and two aces. Defensively, Daniels led with 18 digs followed by Duyn with 16. Rahal and Taylor Capasso finished with 14 digs apiece. Allen, Duyn and Whitney Steranko registered three blocks each.