Second once again the place to find Benjamin

Benjamin’s quest for its first state title in girls volleyball will have to wait another year after the Buccaneers fell to St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep,

25-23, 25-18, 25-22 on Saturday morning at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers.

Benjamin (22-4) finished as state runner-up for the third straight year. It also was runner-up in

1996.

“All of the games were close,” said ninth-year Benjamin coach Alex Clarke, whose team lost for the first time in its past

16 games. The last loss was to Fort Pierce Central on Sept. 14.

“Our girls were ready, but Shorecrest played a great game and our girls didn’t step up to the challenge as they should have. You have to give credit to a great team when credit is deserved.”

It was the schools’ first meeting.

“I think one of the things that got them to this point is their will and their determination,” Clarke said. “They don’t like to lose that last game. They believed in themselves and Shorecrest came ready to play. They had a big middle and a big outside and they had the majority of their kills.”

Junior Ellie Bain finished with 10 kills, while senior Shiyanna McCleod had 5 kills and 6 blocks. Junior Sierra Barron added 28 assists and 6 digs, while senior Whitney Sousa contributed a teamhigh 12 digs.

Clarke believes Benjamin can get back to the final four again. It graduates just two players from this year’s squad, Sousa and McCleod.

“I have a group of juniors who refuse to quit,” Clarke said. “They have played together and won middle school championships. They have the drive to do it again.”