Prep Report: Baker outvolleys Cape
In recent volleyball matches, the Cape Coral Seahawks have shown obvious improvements in areas like team chemistry and defense, though their second encounter with the Ida Baker Bulldogs Tuesday looked much like the first meeting
The host Bulldogs, again, had too much size and hitting ability, leading to a 25-6, 25-10, 25-11 sweep of the Seahawks.
The Bulldogs (11-5) took the first match on Sept. 21 in three games.
“We try to change things up when we a play a team that we defeated the first time around,” Baker coach Rene Van Horn said. “We tried to spread it out a little bit.”
Senior Chelsea Shafer proved equally effective blasting kills or using her running jump serve to attack the Seahawks (1-14). She finished with eight kills and four aces.
Senior Taylor Van Horn collected six kills and 10 service points, senior Chelsey Cline tallied seven aces and eight digs, and senior setter Deonnah Findley added four aces and 15 assists.
At the start of game one, the Seahawks played solid defense and forced some long, back-and-forth exchanges, but each time the difference was the Bulldogs’ ability to convert spikes.
They used their size and athleticism to a clear advantage. The Bulldogs have seven players in their rotation that are 5-foot-8 or taller, while the Seahawks have just two players at 5-8.
The Bulldogs also excelled at serving, registering 22 aces Tuesday.
“We have girls that do a phenomenal job serving to a zone and we have girls that do a great job with the jump serves that are hard to return,” Van Horn said.
The Bulldogs got their offense going in game one, thanks to back-to-back kills by sophomore Payton Van Horn and Shafer, giving them a 5-2 lead. Their early run included a dual block by Shafer and sophomore Brenna Hambsch.
Shafer put together a stretch of four aces toward the end of the opening game, and the final two points came courtesy of an ace by sophomore Kali Nordquist and a block by Payton Van Horn.
In game two, Cape sophomore Alison Harper blasted a shot to give the Seahawks the brief lead, but the Bulldogs took control with strong serving from Findley and Cline. Junior Jennifer Le served consecutive points for the Seahawks, and freshman Kristi Maselter served an ace.
At the start of game three, Nordquist helped the Bulldogs take a comfortable lead.
On one play, she caught the defense off guard with a quick tap over the net to tie it 1-1, and then served the next five points.
The Seahawks look to bounce back Thursday when they host Island Coast at “The Nest.”
The Bulldogs travel to North Fort Myers for their second meeting with the Red Knights. The Bulldogs won the first match in four games.
Bishop Verot 3, Gateway Charter 0: The visiting Vikings (17-0) kept their perfect record intact with a lopsided victory at Gateway Charter, 25-5, 25-8, 25-7.
Sarah Toggweiler led in hitting with eight kills. Natalie Montalvo served 11 aces, and Ciara Brown dished out 17 assists.
The Vikings host LaBelle Wednesday.
Island Coast 3, Dunbar 1: The Island Coast Gators picked up their play after dropping the opening set, and won the last three to defeat visiting Dunbar 21-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-22.
Gators coach Cheryl Stauffer said the team played better in several areas in the last three games.
“We came back and didn’t have the mental errors,” she said. “The serving was on and the girls played together.”
Sophomore Dana Ruff pounded three service aces and junior Kelsey Gates delivered five kills.
The Gators (4-14) visit Cape Coral Thursday.
Mariner 3, South FM 1: Senior Jamie Bentley sparked the defensive effort with 19 digs and added three aces, and the Tritons defeated visiting South Fort Myers, 25-18, 18-25, 25-21, 25-15.
Senior Debra Swain (10 kills, 10 digs) and junior Sam Greenwell (three aces, 19 assists) chipped in for the Tritons (7-12).
Mariner hosts the Triton Invitational Friday and Saturday.
Swimming
At Cape Coral: With their lone male swimmer out of action with an illness, the Island Coast Gators leaned on the performance of the girls’ squad in a swim meet against Mariner and East Lee County.
Junior Megan Clingersmith took first in the 50 freestyle and the Gators won the 200 freestyle relay, leading to a victory in the girls’ meet with 46 points. Mariner placed second with 38 and East Lee County had 21.
“I’m really proud of our girls,” Gators coach Cherie Sukovich. “They pulled together as a team and brought home a win, which is awesome.”
In the boys’ meet, Mariner swept through the events for 116 points and East Lee County was second with 47.
Mariner’s brother tandem of senior Andrew and Alex Strohmeier each notched two victories – Andrew in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke, and Alex in the 200 individual medley and 100 freestyle. Mariner senior Jacob Holzapfel picked up wins in diving and the 500 freestyle.
Mariner sophomore Samantha Suarez and senior Brittany Langbauer each won two events on the girls’ side.
The Gators’ winning 200 freestyle relay team was Amanda Minard, Emily Hampton, Shannon Mallon and Dorothy Bennett.
Boys: Mariner 159, East Lee 47, Island Coast 0
200 medley relay – 1. Mariner 2:05. 200 free – 1. Anthony Nappi (M) 2:33. 200 IM – 1. Alex Strohmeier (M) 2:30. 50 free – 1. Andrew Strohmeier (M) 26.0. Diving – 1. Jacob Holzapfel 147. 100 fly – 1. Ben Heavener (M) 1:25.0. 100 free – 1. Alex Strohmeier (M) 59.0. 500 free – 1. Jacob Holzapfel (M) 6:28.10. 200 free relay – 1. Mariner 2:04. 100 back – 1. Andrew Strohmeier (M) 1:10.0. 100 breast – 1. Antonio Hernandez (M) 1:36. 400 free relay – 1. Mariner 4:19.0.
Girls: Island Coast 46, Mariner 38, East lee 21
200 free – 1. Samantha Suarez (M) 3:02.50. 200 IM – 1. Brittany Langbauer (M) 3:09. 50 free – 1. Megan Clingersmith (IC) 31.06. 100 fly – 1. Langbauer 1:29. 100 free – 1. Truman (E) 1:11.53. 200 free relay – 1. Island Coast 2:52.15. 100 back – 1. Bridget Calderone (M) 1:43. 100 breast – 1. Samantha Suarez (M) 1:40.0.
At DeLeon Pool: As usual, the annual swimming showdown between Cape Coral and Fort Myers produced many thrilling races. The Seahawks prevailed in the girls’ competition 93-77, but the Green Wave took the boys’ meet 112-58.
“Every race was competitive and many came down to the wire,” Cape coach Dianne Kimble said. “It was by far the most exciting meet of the season.”
The Seahawks held their own in the boys’ meet and recorded several personal-best times.
Tyler Thresher and Ryan Cichielo gave the Seahawks a 1-2 finish in the 100 breastroke, while junior Graham Murza was edged in two hotly contested events, the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke.
Seniors Christina Todd (200 IM, 100 fly) and Meghan Cotugno (50 free, 100 free) each won two individual events and the Seahawks swept all three relays.
Senior Lauren Smith gave the Seahawks a 1-2 finish in the 50 freestyle and teamed with Todd, Cotugno and Olivia Langford in a convincing win in the 400 free relay.
The Seahawk boys are 8-1 and the girls are 9-0. They compete in the LCAC Championships next Wednesday at DeLeon Pool. That meet begins at 3 p.m.
Boys: Fort Myers 112, Cape Coral 58
200 medley relay – 1. Fort Myers 1:44.71. 200 free – 1. Swanbeck (F) 1:46.64. 200 IM – 1. Wilson (F) 2:04.93. 50 free – 1. Nunez (F) 21.83. 100 fly – 1. Wilson (F) 54.37. 100 free – 1. Nunez (F) 48.75. 500 free – 1. Kurlind (F) 5:08.87. 200 free relay – 1. Fort Myers 1:35.04. 100 back – 1. Swanbeck 55.22. 100 breast – 1. Tyler Thresher (C) 1:05.83. 400 free relay – 1. Fort Myers 3:23.65.
Girls: Cape Coral 93, Fort Myers 77
200 medley relay – 1. Cape Coral 1:58.99. 200 free – 1. Martinez (F) 1:55.42. 200 IM – 1. Christina Todd (C) 2:17.12. 50 free – 1. Meghan Cotugno (C) 25.83. 100 fly – 1. Todd (C) 1:02.06. 100 free – 1. Cotugno (C) 55.72. 500 free – 1. Martinez (F) 4:56.72. 200 free relay – 1. Cape Coral 1:52.12. 100 back – 1. Tyler (F) 1:04.39. 100 breast – 1. Wilson (F) 1:15.03. 400 free relay – 1. Cape Coral.
Cross Country
At Dunbar: Oasis, with fewer runners than required for a team score, took on East Lee County in an abbreviated meet since Dunbar does not field a boys’ team.
East Lee tallied 23 points by placing three runners in the top five, including overall winner Davidson Kemp (18:08).
Oasis placed Cody Curtis third (21:43) and Collin Cole fourth (22:01). Danny Rawley was sixth (23:02).
Oasis (5-5) participates in the Triton Invitational Saturday at Mariner.
Boys Golf
Evangelical Christian 165 – Matthew Hannaford 39, Jake Sherwin 40, Garrett Lee 40, Grant Rosario 46.
Canterbury 216 – Devin Johnson 44, Zach Lutgren 49, Ryan Bailey 53, Josh Schneider 70.
Sports dditor Jim Linette contributed to this report