For the first time this season, Patel will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup. They will venture away from home to challenge the Land O' Lakes Gators at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The squads are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Patel has struggled recently with three defeats in a row, while Land O' Lakes will arrive with 12 straight victories.
Patel came up short against Zephyrhills on Tuesday, falling 3-0. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss the Trailblazers have suffered against the Bulldogs since September 8, 2022.
Once all was said and done, the final score wound up at 25-17, 25-16, 25-16.
Meanwhile, Land O' Lakes narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past IMG Academy Black 3-2.
Land O' Lakes took IMG Academy Black into a fifth set where they got it done with a seven-point win. The match finished with set scores of 25-21, 23-25, 24-26, 25-19, 15-8.
Land O' Lakes' win came from a few key players Patel will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Amelia Colon, who had 25 digs and two aces. What's more, she racked up eight assists, the most she's had since back in September of 2024. Another player making a difference was Riley Johnson, who had 16 digs and one assist.
Land O' Lakes was lethal from the service line and finished the match with 12 aces. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now served at least five aces in seven consecutive matchups.
Patel's defeat dropped their record down to 2-6. As for Land O' Lakes, their record now sits at 17-7.
Patel suffered a grim 3-0 defeat to Land O' Lakes when the teams last played back in September of 2023. Thankfully for the Trailblazers, Izabella Horruitiner (who had 13 digs, 13 aces, and six kills) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
