16 Black takes second at national event

How good is volleyball in the Tampa Bay area? Consider this: The Tampa Bay Juniors 16 Black team, which includes many of the region's top talents, took second at the prestigious Big South National Qualifying Tournament last weekend in Atlanta.

"That," said Plant outside hitter Maddie Martin, a member of the squad, "is the best our team has ever done. I think we played real well."

The team, which played three matches a day over three days, also included Rendall Buell (Plant), Katie Daorai (Plant), Davi DiSalvatore (Countryside), Becca Howard (Berkeley Prep), Leah Jordan (Plant), Kaitlin Liguori (Alonso), Shelby Mander (Pasco), Ali McCurdy (Plant), Chelsea Parker (Berkeley Prep) and Lindsay Young (Berkeley Prep). It was coached by John Coup and assisted by Jason Bouchard.

The event brought 750 teams of various age groups to Atlanta.

Martin, by the way, already has received a few scholarship offers -- even though she's only a sophomore. The 6-foot-1 standout also has gotten letters of interest from several of the country's elite programs.

-- KEITH NIEBUHR