Layne Thompson – LRHS News

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – After a dominating first set, upsetting second, redeeming third, and victorious fourth set against the Sarasota High school Sailors the LRHS volleyball team will be making their way to the regional finals.

The regional finals will occur 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9 at home versus Naples Gulf Coast. Saturday will be the Mustangs’ last home game this season and in order to bring in the crowds Lakewood Ranch is letting the first 100 students in for free.

Junior Nicole Grant had a fabulous game with 11 kills and many blocks which helped stop Sarasota in their tracks (25-15, 24-26, 29-27, 25-18). Junior Coleen Campbell had a whopping 17 kills and senior Ashlyn Falahee had 14 kills and 11 digs.

“I usually don’t lead the team in kills, but Ali (Milbourn) did a great job setting,” Campbell told the Bradenton Herald.

Junior Ali Milbourn not only got 40 assists but also contributed to the offense this game, getting game point in the third set which propelled the Mustangs to victory.

“It’s fun to get to be a part of the offense because a lot of the time I don’t get to get kills,” said Milbourn.

Freshman Ande McDonald had 16 digs and led the defense for Lakewood Ranch. Senior Lauren Owens also stepped up in the back row with a steady game.

This is the fourth time Lakewood Ranch has played Sarasota this season and the fourth time they’ve beaten them.

“It’s really awesome to go back to the regional final. We are really excited,” Falahee told the Herald. “The third time is hard to beat someone. I think the fourth time we were in the mindset that we can beat them again. After we lost the second game I mentally got down and kind of checked out a little bit. But then we wound up winning 29-27 thank goodness. This is a super mental game and my teammates brought me back.”

The team is excited for the opportunity to make it back to the state tournament and they feel that this is their chance.