TAMPA — Tampa Prep’s season-long unbeaten streak ended during the Berkeley Premier with the Terrapins settling for 11th place in the 24-team tournament. Considering the competition level, that set just fine with coach Andrew Wilson.
“I’m happy with it,” Wilson said of his team’s first winning record at the Berkeley Premier in his three seasons. “It was good for us to really be challenged.”
Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), the nation’s top-ranked team, defeated Gainesville P.K. Yonge 25-19, 25-22 for its ninth title in 12 seasons. That run includes three championship wins over the host Buccaneers, who this weekend finished out of the running with a 2-4 mark.
Tampa Prep (12-2 overall) rallied from a one-game deficit against Fort Lauderdale Pinecrest for a 23-25, 25-19, 27-25 win in its final matchup. The Terrapins also defeated Woodward (Ga.) and Ransom Everglades (Miami) while losing to defending state champions Oviedo and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.
“This tournament’s full of nothing but champions,” Wilson said. “This is designed to get all these teams ready for the playoffs.”
Other Tampa Bay area teams to compete in the two-day series were Academy of the Holy Names, Clearwater Central Catholic, Robinson and Plant. Unlike Tampa Prep, none of those squads posted a winning record.
Tampa Prep led 16-10 in its final game against Pinecrest, but the Green Wave rallied to force three ties before taking a 25-24 lead. A Corey Perkins kill shot tied it at 25, Kamryn Beach’s block at the net gave Tampa Prep a one-point lead and Ariana Mosley’s kill clinched it.
“We’ve been that way kind of all year,” Wilson said. “I’d like us to be a little more aggressive when we’re up so we don’t put ourselves in this position.”