LAKELAND -- St. Thomas Aquinas played well in its Class 5A state volleyball semifinal Friday, but the effort wasn't enough to take down two-time defending champion Plant.

St. Thomas made Plant work for victories in the second and third games, but ultimately lost 25-21, 26-24, 25-17.

''They're just a great team,'' St. Thomas coach Lisa Zielinski said. ``They're just loaded from every rotation. They just have all the guns firing. I really think we were very well prepared. I think we had a game-plan and I really think we held in there the best we could.''

St. Thomas was led by senior Stephanie Zielinski, the coach's daughter, who finished with six kills, 20 assists, 11 digs and 20 service aces. Junior outside hitter Kelly Marble contributed 13 kills and Brittany Linder finished with six blocks.

But even winning a game against Plant has been a challenge this season.

Plant entered the semifinal with a 26-3 record and had lost just 11 games all season. Only Two of their victories went past the minimum number of games.

When St. Thomas took a 12-7 lead in the first game, Plant ran off six consecutive points to tie the score.

St. Thomas led again at 21-20, but senior Maddie Martin had a kill and two service aces to help Plant score fight consecutive points to take the game.

St. Thomas again played tough in the second game. It never led, but tied the score six times, including fighting off two match points to make the score 24.

Martin came through with a kills to put Plant back on top, and Leah Jordan put the game away with a kill.

''We knew what was coming,'' Stephanie Zielinski said. ``We knew who all the hitters are and what they hit.

``I just felt like every point mattered and we took it that way. We fought every point and I think we gave it all we got and we can go off the court saying that.''

Senior Danielle Erb led Plant with 13 kills and 13 digs and Martin had 12 kills and five service aces. Senior setter Ariel Ley had eight kills.

Lisa Zielinski said she knew her team would have a tough time with Plant.

Plant won five state championships since 2000 and had not dropped a game during its past two title runs. It entered this tournament ranked No. 12 in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com.

Four players have committed to play college volleyball, including Martin, who will play at powerhouse Penn State. Two others are being recruited.

''The girls really pushed every point,'' Lisa Zielinski said. ``I felt the girls gave their best every point. And it was maybe game point and we pulled back at the end, I don't think we ever gave up. They in turn would just crank one and put one away.''

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