Preseason POY

Volleyball started this week and although last season was somewhat down (no Pinellas teams reached the final four in any class), there is considerable talent in the area. Who is the best player in Pinellas County? Is it Clearwater's Kristin Fisher or teammate Channing Salava? What about PHU's Sydney Miller? Or Countryside's Madison Truluck? Or East Lake's Sara Rex? IRC's Brianne Yeates? Tell us what you think.

--BRANDON WRIGHT, Times Staff Writer

Comments

[Taylor]

I think its LAKEWOODS, EVAN LIGON!

[Steve]

Salava, Rex and Truluck have all had National type exposure. The competition they had to beat to get there was very difficult which speaks volumes to their ability and talent. I believe these 3 have actually played together on Team Florida too.

[Austin]

what about pinellas parks Dominique Bell

I think the best player in the area isn't in Pinellas County?. Her name is Brandy Worlton. She's 6'3 and plays for Crystal River High in Citrus County. Ever see Kerri Walsh play... could be here twin. She has a number of Div. 1 Teams courting her.

Crystal River has a bunch of good athletes including 6' Meghan Hirsch and setter Ashley Clark. Watch out, this team could go far. The whole starting line-up is back from last year's 23 & 4 team and are getting better and better every day!

[Nick]

Well tonight was the first big match-up between the best in Pinellas County and it looks like Sara Rex came away with the win over Sydney Miller, 3-0.

Rex has really turned into a great player but Miller and Rex don't play the same position! I do believe that Yeates has improved dramatically and Rex just keeps playing better. Truluck has great club exposure with TBJ and their high caliber of coaching and since Countryside changed districts will continue to stand out and succeed with the lack of competition. Fisher has been the primary middle for CHS for years and Salava has played behind her sister in the setting position in the past and hits RS as well. Both appear to be the backbone of that team this year. Great to see so many talented players in the mix this year. Club break down:
Rex, Yeates, Miller = Heat Elite
Truluck = Tampa Bay Juniors
Fisher, Salava = Gulfcoast Juniors

All this talk about who is the best player in Pinellas county...Have you looked in Tarpon? The scores my not show it but Ashley Knight is the shining star. Tarpon played East Lake tonight and the court belonged to Ashley. She out played all the East Lake girls. If Tarpon had a few more club players they would be a competitor. Look past the scores and see the individuals!

I agree with the comment acknowledging there are other teams in Pinellas County other than East Lake, PHU and Clearwater. Take a look at Dunedin, you may not want to under estimate them this year. Tarpon and Dunedin have acquired club players and coaches and certaintly don't plan to lay down to the Big Three in the district.

I agree Rex and Fisher are outstanding players, but we can not forget about Knight. She has stepped up to be the main if not the only offensive player Tarpon Springs has.

[Rob Potnim]

Now that we've heard from Ashley's mom, (August 28th) anybody else have any comments on the East Lake vs. Tarpon game? Oh did she forget to mention that East Lake beat Tarpon, 25-14, 25-15, 25-09. Ouch that third game hurt.

As for the blog entered on August 21st (with no name posted), this is the PINELLAS COUNTY BLOG. Do I need to remind you that Crystal River isn't in Pinellas County?

[jen]

sara rex

[becky]

Sara Rex all the way

Channing Salava sets and HITS. Has to be leading the county in assists had 79 last night alone against Eastlake and when she unleashes her left arm everyone backs off. Sarah Rex has really turned into an all around player as well hitting and digging.I am really impressed with Casey Slater for East Lake,that kid can dig! She hasn't been mentioned much like Salava but she keeps East Lake in the games. You would have to consider Salva,Rex and Slater for this.

[Rob P.]

Yes Channing is a good setter. But she's not goood enough to average 19.75 assists per game or anywhere near 79 a match. However it is possible for her to have averaged 79 setting ATTEMPTS. Whoever threw that stat out needs to look up what qualifies as an assist. Plus they ran a 6-2, which means that someone else was setting when she was front row. 79 assists in 1 match (4 games)... i think not.

In reference to Salava, that stat probably came from the article in St. Pete times. I did get to see a few clearwater games just to watch her and Fisher and they don't really run a 6 2 or what ever you call it when that other girl comes in. The other setter is only in there for a very short time. Whoever you are Rob P. must have an issue with her (salava) because that was a very aggressive way of putting it. After all, she doesn't do her own stats - she looks pretty busy out there on the floor and I don't think she was quoted as saying it either. Leave the kid alone.

[Rob P.]

I wasn't attacking Channing. First thing I said was she's good. And she is! Nor did I say that she herself said she had 79 assists. I have no issues with Channing. My issue is with whoever said she had 79 assists. And yes you are correct, it was quoted in the paper, and it is INCORRECT. That 'other girl' comes in for 3 rotations when they're running a 6-2 and sets so Channing can hit when she's front row. That would be half the time or as you put it, a very short time. I simply stated that having 79 assists in 1 match (which consisted of 4 games) against East Lake wasn't possible. Again that's 19.75 assists per game. Watch a tape of the game and you'll see that I'm right.

Fisher and Salava's serving was strong and consistant throughout the match. They both played well. I will give credit where credit is due. Good job girls.

[ELHS COACHING STAFF]

Maybe this will help set the record straight. We do stats on EVERY point scored in every match we play. Clearwater scored 102 points against us; 16 of those points were aces, 6 of those points were blocks, 23 of those points were our own hitting errors, 8 of those points were own serving errors, and 3 of those points were our own setting errors. That left 46 points for Clearwater to earn from their own kills. This would allow only 46 assists for Clearwater's setters, and not 79.
It was a great match for Clearwater. Channing, Kristin and the entire team played well. We wish them luck with the rest of their season and look forward to playing another exciting match soon!

My vote is for Sara Rex. She's developed from being just a front row hitter and blocker, to becoming an all-round player. She had 20 kills and 32 digs against PHU. She's really stepped it up since last season.

[k]

Sara Rex, Casey Slater and don't forget about the amazing Lindsey Opperman a.k.a. The "Opper-stopper"!!!!
She's been having an amazing season!!!

[George]

I'm so sick of everyone focusing on The offense perspective, thinking that the offense wins the games. You wouldn't win the game if there was no one there to dig the balls. There are three major roles in one play. 1.defense 2.setting 3.offense. In my opinion Casey Slater is the best libero in the county and proved it over and over again and does not get enough credit. The best setter is hard because there are so many awesome setters in our county like miller, cartwight and salava. We are also have Alot of new talent to come like Andrea T. and Carly G. both from East Lake. The best hitter is hard also. We have Rex, Yeates, Fisher, Opperman, Wilson and Knight. We can't forget Opperman, Wilson and Knight. They might not be as tall as the other big hitters or considered on the best teams but they are in my opinion also big contenders.

I don't know who left the comment about the girls at Crystal River High School but we don't care. You can't sit there and say well these girls are being looked at by Div. 1 schools. Come on give me a break. You can't just sit there and compare girls on what school contacts them. That isn't what makes a player good. It also has to do with heart and dedication and that is what we have here in Pinellas County. I 'm not saying those girls shouldn't get credit. They could be awesome for all I know but don't go throwing around how they've been contacted by Div. 1 schools. And by the way Sara Rex and Brianne Yeates have received many letters from Div. 1 schools so the crystal river girls aren't the only ones.

[Malic]

Everyone has over looked Lakewood...No won has recognized that after 6 or 7 years Lakewood won districts twice in a row!...was it the seniors from last year? NO But the sophomore (freshman last year) Evan Ligon an Taylor Whaley.

[Shannon]

Yes it's all about Lakewood. Evan Ligon and her teammates are the best!

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marissa hamilton is a awesome volleyball player at st.pete high

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marissa hamilton is a awesome volleyball player at st.pete high