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Lennard Junior A Hit With Volleyball Team

Tribune photo by ROBERT BURKE

Shelby Sanchez is a junior and a captain on the Lennard High School volleyball team. She has been a member of the squad for three years.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 10, 2008

RUSKIN - The season for Lennard High School's girls varsity volleyball team began this month, but, for junior Shelby Sanchez, it was the latest in a year-round schedule of matches.

"She's one of the few athletes on our team that plays volleyball all year," said Morgan Miltner, head coach.

Sanchez has played volleyball at Lennard for each of her three years at the school. She is now a team captain for the Longhorns, which opened the season with a loss at Tampa Catholic.

She began playing the sport four years ago, almost on a whim.

"I just decided to try out one day when I was still at Beth Shields Middle School and I really liked it a lot," Sanchez said.

Shortly thereafter, she joined the Brandon Sparks, a nonprofit volleyball club with more than 120 players ages 8 to 18.

Although she was a member of the varsity cheerleading squad during her freshman year, Sanchez is not planning to participate in any other school sports because of her volleyball-heavy slate.

"I like volleyball because I like having a team around me - I also like hitting," said Sanchez, who plays left back and along the front for the Longhorns.

Though she's playing a lot of volleyball these days, she doesn't have any plans to pursue the sport beyond her high school years.

"I really feel like volleyball's just something fun for me to do while I'm in high school," She said.

Sanchez - who has lived in Ruskin all her life - hopes to attend the University of Florida and become a veterinarian.

Her coach, for one, has little doubts about her team captain's ability.

"She's a junior, but she brings a great sense of maturity to the team and everything she does," Miltner said.

GET TO KNOW

WHO: Shelby Sanchez

AGE: 16

SCHOOL: Lennard High School

GRADE: 11th

SPORT: Volleyball

PLANS: Wants to attend the University of Florida and become a veterinarian.

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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