High school roundup (Oct. 9-14): Venice High volleyball blanks Cardinal Mooney again
THURSDAY
VOLLEYBALL
Venice 3, Cardinal Mooney 0
25-21, 25-19, 25-16
SARASOTA − For the second time this season, the Venice High volleyball team imposed its will on Cardinal Mooney Catholic.
Venice swept the Cougars, 3-0, for the second time this season, winning 25-21, 25-19, 25-16, Thursday night at the Patterson Pavilion.
In the regular-season finale for both, Cardinal Mooney (18-7) had a three-match winning streak snapped, while Venice (18-6) made it two straight going into next week’s district tournament.
In a matchup of two of the area’s better teams, Venice improved to 19-8 against the Cougars since 2009, although the sides had split the past eight meetings. Venice was the only team to sweep Cardinal Mooney in a five-set match this season, having done it twice, also Sept. 14 at Venice.
Venice takeaways
1. Coming off a 2-3 showing in the highly competitive Battle at the Beach last weekend, Venice has swept Braden River High and Cardinal Mooney the final week of the regular season. “Our team played extremely well tonight, Venice coach Brian Wheatley said. “We hit them in the mouth early, hard and often. Most teams don’t have a game plan for when you hit them in the mouth.”
2. Junior outside hitter Summer Kokler finished with a match-high 19 kills. Senior outside hitter Taylor Orris ended with 13 kills. Senior middle hitter JaLynn Gardner had six kills and three blocks. Junior Kyla Feddolino served six aces, half during a 9-0 run in the third set. “We did a great job of attacking them over and over,” Wheatley said. “We’re playing our best volleyball of the year right now, right at the right time. We pretty much dominated every phase of that match.”
3. Prior to the final Florida High School Athletic Association rankings coming out Friday, Venice was ranked seventh in the state, second in Class 7A-Region 3 behind Plant and eighth in strength of schedule. “I told my team before the game, no matter what happens in this match, we’re zero-and-zero right now,” Wheatley said. “The real season begins right now. The last 24 matches have been the preseason. Everything in our program has changed. Our practices have changed. Our communications have changed. This is the fun part of the season now.”
Cardinal Mooney takeaways
1. The Cougars were hoping for a better showing this time around after falling 25-19, 25-19, 25-7 in the first match at Venice. Their only lead in the first set was 1-0. They did not lead again until 2-0, 4-1 and 5-2 of the third set. “We just didn’t play well,” Cardinal Mooney coach Chad Davis said. “Bottom line is we didn’t play well either time we played them. That falls on me. Obviously, didn’t get them prepared enough to play. It’s unfortunate. We’ve had the better of them the last couple of years. And they got the better of us both times. Just gotta do a tip of the cap to them and move on and get ready for the playoffs. The most disappointing thing about tonight is we didn’t show up again when we played them. But that’s a credit to them too. They have to play well to make that happen. We got outplayed in every phase, so. Tip to them this year. Play them again next season and see if it swings back our way.”
2. Junior middle hitter Riley Greene led the Cougars with 12 kills along with a block and two aces. Freshman right-side hitter Lauren Leach contributed eight kills and a block. Junior middle blocker Zoe Kirby ended with six kills. Cardinal Mooney’s best point came early in the second set when it blocked Venice four times, the final by Greene resulting in a point. “We got outplayed in every phase,” Davis said. “We just didn’t enough of our guys playing at the level necessary to beat a team like that. We just made too many errors. It’s tough when it’s your rival.”
3. The Cougars were ranked 53th by the FHSAA power rankings and sixth in a loaded Class 3A-Region 3. Cardinal Mooney is 35th in MaxPreps. As far as being ready for next week’s district tournament, Davis said, “That will not be an issue. We’re looking forward to it. It’s a disappointing way to end the regular season, but it doesn’t take away what our goals are in the postseason. Hopefully, we can figure out a way to play at a higher level when it’s called for.”
− Dennis Maffezzoli
WEDNESDAY
BOYS GOLF
Charlotte 191, Port Charlotte 221
AT: Twin Isles G&CC
TOP PLAYERS: (CH) Miguel Guzman 33, Edwin Feliciano 33, Andrew Hayes 39, Tanner White 41, Cooper McLaughlin 45, Bryce Lang 45, Jake Kane 47; (PC) Zackary Parker 40, Carlislie Mitchell 43, Chase Coyne 44, Will Rhoten 45, Marcius Tiseo 49, Zakery Kuster 49
NEXT: Charlotte hosts Lemon Bay on Monday; Port Charlotte vs. Babcock Ranch, Thursday at Riverwood
GIRLS GOLF
Lakewood Ranch 165, Riverview 174
AT: Heritage Oaks GC
TOP PLAYERS: (LR) Emily Storm 36, Phoenix Scanlan 39, Sierra Yeomans 40, Sabrina DiRubba 49; (R) Alda Benko 39, Alexandra Zawronty 43, Emily Fung 45, Audrey DeLuca 47
RECORD: Lakewood Ranch 9-2
NEXT: Lakewood Ranch vs. Parrish and Riverview, Tuesday, Royal Lakes, 3:30 p.m.
TUESDAY
VOLLEYBALL
Cardinal Mooney 3, Sarasota 0
25-18, 25-13, 25-13
AT: Cardinal Mooney
TOP PLAYERS: (CM) Helena Hebda 14 assists, 8 service points, 10 digs; Riley Greene 12 kills, 1 ace; Izzy Russell 6 kills, 9 service points, 12 digs; Lauren Leach 6 kills; Piper Carson 4 kills; Sam Kotasek 5 kills, 1 block; Katie Powers 25 digs, 17 service points, 4 aces; Layla Larrick 17 assists, 4 digs, 1 ace
RECORD: Cardinal Mooney 18-6
NEXT: Cardinal Mooney hosts Venice, Thursday, 7 p.m.
GIRLS GOLF
Riverview 177, Sarasota 218
AT: Heritage Oaks (9 holes)
TOP PLAYERS: (S) Eden Hurley 50, Mia Martin 50, Ella Kaskey 56, Lexi Sanchez 62, Selby Kirschner 63
RECORDS: Sarasota 1-7-1, Riverview 2-1
NEXT: Sarasota vs. Saint Stephen's, Thursday, 3:30 p.m., The River Club
MONDAY
GOLF
Donald Ross Memorial Invitational
SARASOTA − There were plenty of storylines Monday afternoon at the 30th Annual Donald Ross Memorial Invitational golf tournament.
Cardinal Mooney Catholic’s Nicolas Bencomo won the boys division with Parrish Community High’s Alex Angelo on the first playoff hole.
After finishing second last season, Braden River High’s Taryn Nguyen took the top spot this year with a 1-under-par 71, the only girls golfer to break par.
Playing in the event for the first time, Parrish Community’s girls team took the team title by the slimmest of margins, securing a one-shot victory over Saint Stephen’s Episcopal with Lakewood Ranch High five shots off the pace.
In the boys team race, Lakewood Ranch continued to roll, as all five players shot in the 70s to post a three-shot win over Cardinal Mooney Catholic.
Boys individual
A pair of juniors, Bencomo and Angelo each shot 2-under par 70s during the first 18 holes. Both had parred the par-4 first, which was used as the first playoff hole.
Bencomo duplicated his par for the victory.
“I like the hole,” Bencomo said of the first. “I hit a good drive. I hit a bad second shot, but I got up and down to make par.”
Bencomo shot a 1-under-par 71 last year at the event.
“It feels good to come out with the win this year,” he said.
Bencomo credits his iron play for his success.
“I hit a lot of greens,” he said. “That’s a big key on this course.”
Bencomo was just as pleased with the Cougars’ second-place finish in the team standings. Teammate senior Tommy Tyler was one shot off the pace and the only other boys’ golfer to shoot under par with a 71. Junior Finlay Murphy and senior Lukas Wahlstrom shot 78 for Cardinal Mooney 297.
“We’ve grown a lot as a team,” Bencomo said. “We’re learning to play a lot better. We should be in great shape for states this year.”
Girls individual
After finishing second as a freshman, Nguyen was the runaway winner with her 71. Cardinal Mooney’s Jolie Pastorick was second with a 75, and Parrish Community’s Natalie Angelo carded a 76.
“I forgot how the course actually played,” Nguyen said. “I was hoping to play pretty good today.”
On a course with very quick greens, Nguyen said it was her putting that was the difference. Practicing at her home course of Laurel Oaks helped.
“I was putting way better,” she said. “It is tough to putt on this course. Practicing at Laurel Oaks helped a lot. It’s as fast as here.”
The first place plaque was slightly bigger than second place, but finishing on top meant a whole lot more.
“It means a lot to me,” Nguyen said. “It makes me really happy to win. I think I can shoot the same thing more often.”
Nguyen has aspirations of playing college golf, possibly in North Carolina, but would not mind staying in the state of Florida to continue her career.
“Florida has really good state colleges too,” said Nguyen, who began playing at the age of 3. “I’ve been playing a while.”
Girls team
The Parrish Community girls team did not know much about the Donald Ross before stepping on the course Monday.
“It’s an incredible type of opportunity for us,” Bulls coach Erin Lisch said. “We’ve never been in this type of tournament before. Being able to do this and pulling off the win with one stroke, it’s amazing.”
Lisch had a plan for the big event.
“The first nine you’ve got to push through it,” she said. “And the second nine, that’s when you have to grind it out. It paid off big time.”
Behind the 76 from the freshman Angelo, Parrish Community received an 82 from freshman Avery Banfill and a 90 from sophomore Stefani Cannon.
“Our No. 1 girl (Angelo) played it once and the other girls went in blind,” Lisch said. “It’s been a really solid team. It’s been exciting because we have a really young team. We’re starting to gel and getting used to that high school golf and seeing them develop throughout the season. It’s been fantastic.”
Boys team
Lakewood Ranch continued a huge weekend of golf. Three players played 54 holes Saturday and Sunday in the Florida Junior Golf Tour and another went to Vero Beach with Mustangs’ Silver team for a tournament.
After finishing fourth a year ago, Lakewood Ranch captured the event for the first time since 2015, when the Mustangs swept both the boys and girls titles.
“It’s kinda redemption from last year because we played so poorly,” said Lakewood Ranch coach Dave Frantz, who celebrated his 64th birthday Monday. “That was in my mind. I don’t know if it was in the team’s mind. We’re hitting all cylinders.”
Junior Parker Severs led the Mustangs with an even-par 72. Junior Henry Burbee was one stroke behind with a 73. Sophomore Max Colby Bendixen (75) and sophomore Josh Orgen each carded 75. Junior Luke Wilson also was in the 70s with a 79.
“It’s a big deal,” said Frantz of the team’s sixth tournament win of the season. “It means a lot every time.”
Orgen (7th), Burbee (17th) and Severs (10th) placed in their respective age groups at the FJT, which was 36 holes Saturday and 18 Sunday. The Silver team, which included Bendixen, finished fourth, six shots out of first in Vero Beach.
“We’ve been playing a lot,” Frantz said whose team is fourth in the state, second in Class 3A and raised its record to 106-11. “It was kinda weird because September was more busy than October is going to be. So now we are going to regroup and finetune and hit the ground running like we did last year.”
Girls team: Parrish Community 245, Saint Stephen's 246, Lakewood Ranch 250, Out-of-Door 254, Venice 265
Girls individual: Taryn Nguyen, Braden River 71, Jolie Pastorick, Cardinal Mooney 75, Natalie Angelo, Parrish Community 76, Phoenix Scanlan, Lakewood Ranch 77, Madeline Crosby, Out-of-Door 79
Boys team: Lakewood Ranch 294, Cardinal Mooney 297, Riverview 303, Sarasota 304, Saint Stephen's 310
Boys individual: x-Nicolas Bencomo, Cardinal Mooney 70, Alex Angelo, Parrish Community 70, Tommy Tyler, Cardinal Mooney 71, Eddie Gu, Saint Stephen's 72, Parker Severs, Lakewood Ranch 72
x-won on first playoff hole
− Dennis Maffezzoli
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: High school roundup (Oct. 9-14): Guzman, Feliciano propel Charlotte golf
