Volleyball: Plant’s Martin surpasses 1,000 kills as Panthers advance

Posted Nov 10, 2009 by Nick Williams

Updated Nov 11, 2009 at 12:06 AM

PALM HARBOR The No. 9 nationally ranked Plant volleyball team took a step closer to reaching the state tournament on Tuesday with a 25-14, 25-13, 25-16 win over Palm Harbor University in the Class 6A Region 3 semifinals.

Plant (26-1) moves on to face Orlando Dr. Phillips in the region championship on Saturday at Plant at 2 p.m. 

Senior outside hitter and Penn State commit Maddie Martin surpassed 1,000 career kills in the match, reaching the milestone on a kill in Game 2 that gave her team a 21-11 lead.

“I was surprised,” said Martin, who needed 14 kills entering the match to reach 1,000. “(Plant coach Leanna Taylor) told me I was getting close. It snuck up on me.”

“We thought she would get it on Saturday but she had such a big game against Countryside,” Taylor said. “We knew she would get it tonight. We’re all excited for her.”

Martin led Plant with 18 kills while senior middle hitter Leah Jordan added 10 kills along with seven blocks. Liberos Ali McCurdy and Katie Daorai finished with 12 digs each to keep the ball in play for the Panthers.

“We’re definitely in postseason mode,” Taylor said. “We’re at the point of the season where we’re playing well, but there are still some things I don’t want to see, like balls on the floor.”

Palm Harbor (23-3) led 10-7 in Game 3 until Plant rallied to score 13 consecutive points, aided by the serving of junior hitter Alex Johnson.

“Palm Harbor played with a lot of energy,” Martin said. “They snuck some points on us when we lost focus.”