SCF VB Readies for Home Opener vs Pasco

PC: SCF Manatees Facebook

Hoping to bounce back from their first three matches, the SCF volleyball team (0-3) readies for their home opener at Hal Chasey Gymnasium in Bradenton, Wednesday, August 28 at 6 pm. The Manatees welcome Pasco-Hernando State (1-3) as their opponent for their matchup.

Last Time Out:
The Manatees are coming off of opening the season on neutral grounds in Gainsville at the Santa Fe/Campus USA Classic where they fell to host Santa Fe 3-1 on day one before wrapping up day two with losses against Daytona State (3-0) and Palm Beach State (3-2).

Key Players:
Offensively, the Manatees are led by sophomore Lakeesha Esseboom. Esseboom lead the team with 24 kills and eight blocks in the tournament.

Not too far behind offensively are freshmen Jazmin Spencer and Leilani Wilcox-Nanai. Both finished the tournament with 16 kills each.

Freshman Gracee Carpino leads the team with 75 assists.

Aside from Esseboom, sophomore Daviya Bernard has also played a key role defensively. Bernard has 12 kills and six blocks.

1,000 Dig Club:
Still following the footsteps of her older sister, Brittany, sophomore Sydney Jaco sets the toll defensively. Jaco currently has 74 digs in her name (6.17 per set) while already reaching the milestones of 800 and 850 career digs. Currently, Jaco has 858 in her career and has passed her older sister who had 827 in her career. Jaco is 142 away from reaching the 1,000 dig club.

Scouting PHSC:
The Bobcats finished last season 21-8 overall with a 10-1 record in the Sun-Lakes Conference (NJCAA DII).

This season, the Bobcats opened their season on neutral grounds at the two-day Central Florida Volleyball Invitational. They would get shutout by FSW and Miami Dade on August 23 before shutting out Florida Gateway and being shutout by Gulf Coast State.

The Bobcats were without Camden Bitter, Abby Epstein and Natasha Bannister as they graduated, but have brought back six sophomores.

Freshman Brooke Sereda leads the Bobcats offensively and defensively. Sereda leads the team with 21 kills and 64 digs.

Not too far behind Sereda offensively is sophomore Arianna Colon, while defensively it is classmate Linsey Christianson. Colon is second on the team in kills (19) while Christianson is second in digs (39).

The Bobcats will likely use a double setter rotation in freshman Mary Lowe and sophomore Morgan Bullinger as the duo have a combined 52 assists (Lowe: 30; Bullinger: 22).

Series History (2012-Present):
Overall, the Manatees are 4-7 against the Bobcats. Last time both teams met, the Bobcats were successful in the 2018 season, shutting out the Manatees twice (8/22/18 and 8/25/18). The Manatees last victory over the Bobcats was on August 29, 2016 where the Manatees won 3-0.

How to Keep Up:
The home matches will be livestream on the SCF YouTube page. Fans can also keep up with both teams on Twitter.

SCF: @SCFVolleyball
PHSC: @PHSCVolleyball