SPACE COAST DAILY SPORTS TV: Mustangs Win Volleyball State Championship, Post 30-2 Record
By Space Coast Daily // May 15, 2019
2019 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME TEAM OF THE YEAR INDUCTEE
SPACE COAST DAILY SPORTS TV: Merritt Island volleyball coach Angie Patrick can scratch a few items off her bucket list. Under the leadership of seniors Lexi Denaburg, Shae Henson and Jasmine Sayre, the Mustangs were 95-17 in four years, capturing one big FHSAA Class 6A title.
BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – Merritt Island volleyball coach Angie Patrick can scratch a few items off her bucket list.
Patrick was inducted into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 on the strength of her numerous Coach of the Year awards, including the one she captured when her Mustangs won the 2011 state championship.
During her acceptance speech, Patrick said, “On my bucket list are a few more state championships and the chance to coach my daughter as a Mustang volleyball player.”
Four years after her induction and seven years after the Mustangs last state crown, Patrick’s Mustangs, are state champions once again as Merritt Island captured the Florida High School Athletic Association 6A state volleyball championship last November.
Patrick also got to coach her daughter, freshman Jordyn Patrick, as the team racked up a 30-2 record.
The goal for Merritt Island volleyball every year is to win a state title, but that mantra was never more accurate as the Mustangs headed into the 2018 season.
The Mustangs were deep in talent and possessed family-like team chemistry, and with two of the best players in the state on the team in outside hitter Lexi Denaburg and setter Shae Henson, much was expected.
FIRST ON, LAST OFF
Other players, like Jasmine Sayre, Bobbie Jo Schwantz, Penelope Colombo and a pair of freshman, Macy Reynolds and Macie Sinclair would all be counted on heavily for contributions and none of them would disappoint.
“From midnight July 30th to the last minute on the championship court, it was the longest season we could possibly have had,” said Patrick. “First on, last off was the goal.”
There was one big question mark for Merritt Island and that was could they finally get past their dreaded 6A rivals, Bishop Moore.
The Hornets had sent the Mustangs back to the Island in each of the previous three seasons while they went on to claim two 6A state crowns.
The Mustangs dominated to start the season as they began 12-0 never losing a single set in the process.
Their first loss of the season came to a team from Tennessee that ended up as the top-ranked team in the state and ranked No. 12 in the country at seasons end.
Merritt Island would bounce back to win nine in a row before falling for the final time in 2018 during the Swing for The Cure Tournament in Orlando.
The Mustangs played five matches in two days posting a 4-1 record and losing just three sets against some of the best teams in the state.
Merritt Island would return to Brevard County to capture their 14th straight district and eighth straight Cape Coast Conference titles before entering state tournament play.
FULLY CONFIDENT
The run to the championship began with the Mustangs hammering Eustis in three sets by a combined score of 75-29. The win set up the highly anticipated rematch with their nemesis and defending state champ, Bishop Moore.
Playing at home, Merritt Island won the first set 25-16 but Bishop Moore bounced back to force a third and deciding set. With a frenzied crowd on their side, the Mustangs would prevail this time and lift the monkey off their backs.
The Mustangs still needed to get past the previous years state runner-up, Archbishop McCarthy. The two teams split the first two sets, but the Mustangs would win by identical 25-20 scores in the final two, to move onto the state semifinals.
Merritt Island defeated Tarpon Springs in three straight set to advance to the State title match where they disposed of Santa Fe, 25-22, 25-19 and 25-20 to win their second title in seven years.
“This championship has been a few years in the making,” said Patrick. “I was fully confident this team would do it. Our three seniors were the perfect ones to lead the way.
“The whole team made it a fun and successful journey. I am so happy for the team, but especially for the seniors who earned every bit of this championship. We appreciate and still continue to enjoy the support we have from our community.
Under the leadership of seniors Lexi Denaburg, Shae Henson and Jasmine Sayre, the Mustangs were 95-17 in four years, capturing one big FHSAA Class 6A title.
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