Palm Harbor outlasts East Lake in Pinellas volleyball showdown

It started with a flash.

It ended with a flurry.

In front of a packed house Thursday night in Palm Harbor, the Hurricanes showed postseason-like resiliency to beat East Lake in a Pinellas County volleyball slugfest 25-22, 22-25, 23-25, 25-14, 16-14.

Senior Leah McNary led the Hurricanes with 15 kills and 7 blocks. Teammate Chelsea King added 28 digs and blanketed the court defensively. Junior Caitlyn Kovach served up 38 assists for PHU, who trailed two games to one at one point and 8-4 in the deciding fifth game. Both mountains, the Canes overcame.

"We just took it one point at a time," Palm Harbor coach Tara Kuk said."We never gave up hope on the match and we stayed confident throughout that tough fifth game." 

East Lake was paced by senior Lauran Eschenroeder, who pounded out 17 kills while junior Brianna McComeskey added 11. Sophomore Brooke Burkett pitched in 44 digs for the Eagles, who were dejected in defeat but optimistic after the experience so early in the season.  

"To be out on the court with all this cheering... it's awesome," East Lake's Eschenroeder said. "It's intense and it's the best experience."

The gym was packed with volleyball "Blue Crew" as they are known in Eagle Country as East Lake students jammed the visitor's side all dressed in white. As for the home team, Hurricane "Rowdies" remained on their feet and were deafening the entire match. There was plenty of hype before, during and after the contest. Thursday night in Palm Harbor more than lived up to it.

The two teams do meet again on September 15th at East Lake.