ABOVE VIDEO: The Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School is back in the District 5A State Final Four, and Rachel Petkosh talks about being the team’s only holdover from the state championship team in 2011.
MUSTANGS DEFEAT SUNLAKE IN THREE STRAIGHT SETS; 25-13, 25-16, 25-16 TO ADVANCE TO DISTRICT 5 STATE FINALS
Mustangs to play Bishop Kenny in the championship match Friday at 5:05 p.m.
IMAGES FROM THE MERRITT ISLAND vs. SUNLAKE MATCH
Alyssa Zwolensky, above, and the Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School defeated Sunlake by a score of 3-0.From left to right: Maddie Day, Skylar Lierse, Kayla Smith, Anna Garrett, and Rachel Petkosh of the Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School celebrate their victory over Sunlake on Thursday.From left to right: Kayla Smith, Maddie Day, Alyssa Zwolensky, Rachel Petkosh, and Anna Garrettand the Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School defeated Sunlake by a score of 3-0 Thursday. The Mustangs will play in the 5A Championship tomorrow against Bishop Kenny at 5 p.m.Anna Garrett, above, sets the ball for her teammate during Thursdays Semifinal matchup against Sunlake. The Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School defeated Sunlake by a score of 3-0 Thursday. The Mustangs will play in the 5A Championship tomorrow against Bishop Kenny at 5 p.m.Students from Merritt Island cheer on the Lady Mustangs volleyball team as they defeated Sunlake by a score of 3-0 Thursday. The Mustangs will play in the 5A Championship tomorrow against Bishop Kenny at 5 p.m.The Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School defeated Sunlake by a score of 3-0 Thursday. The Mustangs will play in the 5A Championship tomorrow against Bishop Kenny at 5 p.m.Number 9, Skylar Lierse, and the Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School defeated Sunlake by a score of 3-0 Thursday. The Mustangs will play in the 5A Championship tomorrow against Bishop Kenny at 5 p.m.Alyssa Zwolensky, above, and the Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School defeated Sunlake by a score of 3-0 Thursday. The Mustangs will play in the 5A Championship tomorrow against Bishop Kenny at 5 p.m.The Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School celebrate after they defeated Sunlake by a score of 3-0 Thursday. The Mustangs will play in the 5A Championship tomorrow against Bishop Kenny at 5 p.m.Rachel Petkosh, above, and the Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School defeated Sunlake by a score of 3-0 Thursday. The Mustangs will play in the 5A Championship tomorrow against Bishop Kenny at 5 p.m.From left to right: Alyssa Zwolensky, Marina Morales, and Abby Shaffer. The Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School defeated Sunlake by a score of 3-0 Thursday. The Mustangs will play in the 5A Championship tomorrow against Bishop Kenny at 5 p.m.Left to right: Maddie Day, Skylar Lierse, Kayla Smith, Anna Garrett, and Rachel Petkosh celebrate as the Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School defeated Sunlake by a score of 3-0 Thursday. The Mustangs will play in the 5A Championship tomorrow against Bishop Kenny at 5 p.m.
PREVIOUS REPORT
‘If We Play Our A Game At State, We Can Win’
Team’s theme is MOXIE: Courage, Determination, Character, Tenacity and Heart
BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – The Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School is back in the District 5A State Final Four – for the third time in the last four years.
The Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School is back in the District 5A State Final Four – for the third time in the last four years. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)
The team plays their first match at Kissimmee’s Silver Spurs Arena on Thursday at 1 p.m. against Sunlake and Space Coast Daily will be providing live updates.
The winner will move to the finals at 5:05 p.m. on Friday.
Led by Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Coach Angie Patrick, the team won their 10th straight district title and were 13-0 in the Cape Coast Conference.
The Lady Mustangs were 23-7 overall, but Coach Patrick says that the seven losses gave the team a great assessment of their title chances.
Angie Patrick
“It’s been a successful season so far and I am pleased with how we are playing together right now. Team 2014 carries on the strong tradition of being a power in the county and state.
“We scheduled tough competition this season and played in Fort Lauderdale (Cardinal Gibbons) and Jacksonville (Bishop Kenny) to see how we match up. We’ve taken our hits along the way and also have had some great victories.”
Led by Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Coach Angie Patrick, the Lady Mustangs won their 10th straight district title and were 13-0 in the Cape Coast Conference. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)
The team is led by two veteran seniors, Skylar Lierse and Rachel Petkosh. Lierse is leading the team in kills and has been a strong attack in the front and back rows, according to Patrick.
Petkosh is the team’s only holdover from the state championship team in 2011.
“This team is very special. We’re shorter than the 2011 team so we focused on conditioning last summer and are a more physical and athletic team. We try to outwork bigger teams.”
The team also boasts leaders from their junior and sophomore classes.
“Anna Garrett (junior) has done a wonderful job running the offense. She has really become a smart player and is quite a threat at the net,” Patrick said.
As well, sophomore Alyssa Zwolensky has recently come off a mandatory rest period following a concussion and has stepped it up, according to Patrick.
“She recorded a career high 24 kills against Pompano Beach to advance us to state.”
The team’s theme is MOXIE: Courage, Determination, Character, Tenacity, and Heart.
Patrick added, “If we play our A game at state, we can win. We don’t come close to being as tall as these teams we’ve played all season, but if we are smart and control the serving/passing game, we’ve got a good shot!”
“This team is very special,” said coach Angie Patrick. “We’re shorter than the 2011 team so we focused on conditioning last summer and are a more physical and athletic team. We try to outwork bigger teams.” (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)The Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School is back in the District 5A State Final Four – for the third time in the last four years. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)The Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School is back in the District 5A State Final Four – for the third time in the last four years. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)The Lady Mustangs volleyball team from Merritt Island High School is back in the District 5A State Final Four – for the third time in the last four years. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charles Parker is a longtime resident of Brevard County and has been writing for various publications for the last 40 years – both print and digital. Parker covers space, politics, religion, and other news and special events for Space Coast Daily.
Charles Parker
Currently, he is an aerospace engineering teacher at Merritt Island High School. He is also the director of both the da Vinci Academy of Aerospace Technology and the Academy of Hospitality, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism at MIHS. He is a professor of Humanities and World Religions at Eastern Florida State College and Valencia College.
Parker has worked extensively in the tourism and aerospace industries in Brevard. He has also been a United Methodist pastor and director of a non-profit to help young adults aging out of foster care. He was formerly a board member at Brevard Achievement Center and the Childcare Association of Brevard. He was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the Children’s Services Council from 1999-2003.
Parker earned a BA in Organizational Management from Warner University and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. He is married, has four children and one grandchild.
AUTHOR NOTE: These views are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Brevard Public Schools, Eastern Florida State College, or Valencia College.
