Louise Crocco's shadow stretches across decades, and fills Cardinal Gibbons' gym like few coaches anywhere.

It was there Saturday that Kathryn Farland tip-toed her way into the light, stepping out of that shadow and into her own piece of Gibbons lore.

And Crocco wept.

''I'm so proud of her,'' said Crocco with tears in her eyes. ``She did a great job. That's a tough act to follow.''

The toughest.

How do you replace Crocco, the woman who defines high school volleyball, the queen of her sport, who not only has left an indelible imprint on Gibbons and volleyball but who also is a pioneer for women's athletics?

Enter Farland, the baby-faced pupil who looks young enough to play for Gibbons. She did, until she graduated in 2003 after helping win one of Crocco's 18 state titles.

Now, two years removed from the University of Florida, Farland stood by herself, hugging her kids, embracing the moment and bathing in her team's regional 4A final victory over defending state champ Jensen Beach (25-5) (15-25, 25-20, 25-22, 28-26), which gave Gibbons (28-3) a berth in the state final four.

''This means the world to me,'' said the first-year coach amid an onslaught of hugs and congratulations. ``Everyone knows this is what we work for. It means the world to keep the tradition going.''

IMPOSING VIEW

And everyone knew the pressure that hovered over Farland, like that west wall hovers over the Gibbons gym, the one draped with 18 state title banners and another that reads, ''Louise A. Crocco, National Volleyball Coach of the Year, 1988.'' The wall itself is pretty imposing.

''Yeah, just a little,'' said Farland, standing under the wall and glancing up at the banners. ``There was pressure to start, but I have Louise here whenever I need her.''

Crocco is the school's athletic director and watched every volley Saturday, standing just beneath that west wall of tribute wearing a red shirt and red-vested jacket. Crocco still bleeds Gibbons red, or is it the other way around: Gibbons bleeds Crocco red?

Farland, 23, looks like a teenager but coaches like a veteran. She substitutes like crazy, always looking for an edge, as she says, ``putting the right player in the right spot at the right time.''

Just like Crocco did when she picked the right coach to replace her.

''Everyone questioned me because she was so young,'' Crocco said. ``But I knew her, and I knew the kind of coach she would be.''

That 19th state title might just have Farland's name on it.

''She is an amazing coach. She brings so much to our team, so much energy,'' sophomore Jessica Wynn said. ``Those were big shoes to fill, and she couldn't have filled them more beautifully.''

Wynn finished with nine blocks and 13 kills, including the ultimate slam that gave Gibbons the final 28-26 win in the fourth game.

Jensen Beach beat Gibbons a year ago in the region final and threw everything at Farland's team, including laser shots from Brittany Tiegs (18 kills) and Sarah Wickstrom (eight kills and 27 assists). Molly Alexander ran off an 11-point service run to lift Beach to a 25-15 win in the first game, but Farland snapped Gibbons right back.

'I told them, `Keep your heads up, keep fighting, and we will win,' '' Farland said. ``They went out there for the second game with a different look in their eyes.''

PREMIER MATCHUP

This could have been the unofficial state title Saturday.

''It has been for the last two years,'' Jensen Beach coach Mike Sawtelle said. ``It's a shame we have to meet them [in the region final]. Our defense was great, but they were just [too much] on the front line and they don't make mistakes.''

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