Garofalo helps Southeast rally past Charlotte in district match

By CURTIS WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT

Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 1:00 a.m.

PUNTA GORDA - Senior middle hitter Amanda Garofolo is called "The Wall" on the Southeast High Web site's roster.

And she was exactly that Wednesday night as the Seminoles rallied for a 19-25, 18-25, 25-16, 25-14, 21-19 Class 5A-District 12 victory over Charlotte High at the Wally Keller Gymnasium.

The Tarpons, 0-6 overall and 0-3 in the district, had no answer for Garofalo most of the match. She finished with 24 kills (17 in the final three games) and five blocks.

Both teams had several chances to win the match in the final game. The Seminoles and Tarpons had two match points each before the marathon contest ended on a lift call against the home team.

Garofalo tallied eight kills in the fourth game and five more in the fifth. Freshman outside hitter Janhea Beisner and senior middle hitter Alyssa Fleming led the way for the Tarpons with three kills each in the final game.

Southeast (5-1, 2-1) jumped out to a 9-5 lead in the opening game before Fleming took control at the net for the Tarpons with six kills.

Senior outside hitter Ashley Bacon had four kills in the second game as Charlotte took a 2-0 lead over Southeast. Freshman Abi Conde tallied five service points and two aces in the game for the Tarpons.

Sophomore Michelle McGee served the Seminoles to an 8-4 lead in the third game. McGee notched 10 service points and five of Southeast's eight aces in that game. Sophomore Savannah Byl had three kills to lead the Seminoles at the net.

Fleming led the way for Charlotte with 15 kills. Bacon finished with 16 service points and six aces for the Tarpons. McGee paced Southeast serving with 24 points and seven aces in the match.

The Seminoles will compete in the Manatee County Tournament this weekend at Manatee Community College. The Tarpons play host to district leading Venice next Wednesday.