Volleyball preview: No. 6 Tampa Prep

Tampa Prep

At a glance

Coach: Leanna Prida Taylor

Class: 3A, District 5

Last season: 14-5

Key players: OH Olivia Hart, So.; OH Rylee Johnson, Jr.; MH Maddie McKenzie-Newton, Jr.; OH Maya Van Hyst, Jr.; MB Ivana Zujovic, Jr. 

Schedule

Tues. at Venice, 7

Thurs. Vs. Lakeland McKeel Academy, 6:30

Aug. 31 at Sarasota Out-of-Door Academy, 6

Sept. 7 vs. Berkeley Prep, 6

Sept. 11 at Winter Park Trinity Prep, 1

Sept. 14 vs. Carrollwood Day, 6

Sept. 20 at Sarasota Riverview, 6

Sept. 22 vs. Tampa Catholic, 6

Sept. 29 at Sarasota Cardinal Mooney, 6:30

Oct. 1 vs. Brooks DeBartolo, 6

Oct. 5 at Academy of the Holy Names, 6:30

Oct. 8 vs. Sarasota Out-of-Door Academy, 6

Oct. 12 vs. Tampa Bay HEAT, 6 

Outlook

Now in her fifth season, Leanna Prida Taylor has guided the Terrapins back to the brink of playoff prominence. After going through a pair of losing seasons (2017-18) at her alma mater, Prida Taylor has shown steady improvement, culminating with a 14-5 record last season. Winning seasons are nice, but Tampa Prep wants to take the next step by making deep playoff runs. That’s something Prida Taylor was accustomed to during her previous coaching stint at Plant (2003-11), where she guided the Panthers to five straight state titles (2006-10). The squad Prida Taylor has this year with the Terrapins is capable of making some noise in the postseason. Five starters return — Olivia Hart, Rylee Johnson, Maddie McKenzie-Newton, Maya Van Hyst and Ivana Zujovic. Tampa Prep got an added bonus with the addition of Victoria Padilla, who transferred from Sickles.