Latest Venice Volleyball

AKELAND | The Tallahasee Leon Lions advanced to the title game for the second time in three years as they defeated Venice High School 25-23, 25-11, 25-22 at the State Volleyball tournament Wednesday evening.
With the win , the 24-5 Lions will play Martin County for the championship tonight at 7 p.m. Venice, which won the state title four years ago, ends its season 21-9.
The Lions and the Indians split the first 20 points before the victors used the play of Alex Johnson to go on a 9-2 run and take a 19-12 lead. Johnson had five of her team high 14 kills in the first game.

"I know these kids can do it and they did it." Lion coach Joy Becker said. "I felt like in the second game, Venice started to get a little scared."

Autumn Duyn, who is being recruited by Florida Southern, led Venice with 13 kills and 13 digs. Setter Taylor Capasso ha 33 assists, while her Leon High counterpart, Molly Pearce, chipped in with 30 assists of her own.

The Stuart Martin County Tigers will be looking for their first state title since 1999 after defeating Lithia Newsome High School 25-14,25-16, 25-15.

The Tigers (30-1) are ranked 16th in the nation by Maxpreps

Newsome, which advanced to the final four for the first time in school history, finished the year at 19-8. The Wolves defeated Lakeland High in the regional finals on Saturday.

Martin County used its height advantage as sisters Elise and Nicole Walch, who are 6-feet-5 and 6-3 respectively, combined for 28 kills and numerous block points. Lauren Zellmer led Newsome with eight kills and seven digs.

"The team relaxed in the last two games," Newsome first year coach Kate Correa said. "They just outplayed us."

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