VENICE - No longer is the Venice High volleyball team just concerned with playing well.  That is so 2008.  "We want to win," senior middle hitter Jillian Allen said. "It's our new thing that we are working on. We play to win."  And win the Indians are.

 

In one of its most impressive performances of the young season, Venice disposed of Riverview 25-8, 25-9, 25-11 Wednesday night at the Indians gym.

"Last year, we were all about 'Let's play well. Let's play well.' The results will take care of itself," Indians coach Brian Wheatley said. "This year, we are all about, 'Hey, we're going to win.' We have a lot of seniors on the team. It's win. Period."

Five different hitters recorded the first five kills for Venice, which did not make a hitting error until the middle of the third game, long after Wheatley cleared his bench.

"We were batting 1,000 in the middle of the third game," Wheatley said. "We thought we were going to go the whole match without one."

Junior Payton Herschberger led with eight kills. Junior Autumn Duyn had seven. Sophomore Bianca Echtler came off the bench to contribute five, matching Emily Daniels.

Senior Libero Dorothy Rahal served 12 of the Indians' 19 aces and added a team-high 13 digs.

It was a rude welcome for a Rams team that had not visited Venice since 2003.

"They definitely looked unmotivated," Riverview coach Nina Singleton said of her squad. "Flat. I don't even know what else to say about it.

Earlier in Sarasota, the Rams were more competitive in a 25-10, 25-12, 25-13 loss.

"We actually played much better the first time," Singleton said. "They looked about the same."

While Riverview (3-9) will be looking to make it two straight in the district tonight at home against St. Petersburg, the Indians (9-1) are gearing up for a trip to Tampa and a weekend in the Berkeley Premier event.

Venice is hoping for a performance like Wednesday night all weekend. "Definitely," Allen said. "Most definitely."

In Venice's pool are Mercy Academy from Louisville, Ky., Gainesville Buchholz and Tampa Prep.

In the other pool are Tallahassee Leon, Baldwin from Pittsburgh, Pa., Saint Pius X Catholic from Atlanta and host Berkeley.

"We're going to take what we did tonight and go hard this weekend," Allen said.

While Wheatley likes where his team is right now, he will have a better idea Saturday night.

"This weekend will be the true test," he said.

 

Pirates beat 'Canes

BRADENTON -- Sophomore Brittany Jaco had 14 kills to help Braden River beat Manatee 25-21, 18-25, 25-9, 25-11 on Wednesday.

Junior Kaleigh Jaco had 19 blocks while teammate Kelly Shiels had 17 digs.