The Lourdes girls' volleyball team hadn't been able to figure out a way to the regional playoffs until this season.

On Wednesday night at the Palmetto gym, it made sure to make its stay a little longer.

Led by the sharp serving of senior Lauren Silva, the Bobcats secured their first regional playoff victory since 1996 and only third in school history when they beat Palmetto 26-24, 26-24, 25-19 in a Region 4-6A quarterfinal.

Silva recorded seven aces, including three in the decisive game to eliminate Palmetto, which made it to the state final four last season.

``Lauren came in and threw a variety of different sevres at them that threw them off balance,'' said first-year Lourdes coach Greg Villareal.

Lourdes (16-12) advances to play at Ferguson at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the regional semifinals. The Bobcats lost to the Falcons three times this season, and have never advanced beyond the semifinals.

Silva and sophomore Sophia Del Campo each had six kills. Senior outside hitter Carolina Nuche finished with a match-high 13 kills. Junior setter Katherine Zamora had 31 assists, and freshman libero Victoria Verdeja had 23 digs.

Each helped Lourdes win a pair of momentum-swinging games to set up the 3-0 match sweep.

``They were nervous since it was the first game beyond districts for any of our girls,'' Villareal said. ``I told them just to relax and enjoy themselves.''

• Region 4-6A quarterfinal -- Ferguson d. Killian, 25-19, 25-17, 25-17: Alexandra Beverly slammed five of her team-high 14 kills in the third game.

``We played a good game overall and our setter really ran our offense well,'' Ferguson coach Greg Shanower said. ``We turned on the switch when we needed to, which is good, but it's that time of year where every point, every set, every play counts.''

Ferguson (20-5) rallied to win the opening game, as Beverly collected four of her 14 kills. Alexandra Walewski added 20 digs and seven kills.

The Falcons will prepare for Lourdes next.

``Playing Lourdes again is tough because they played us so well in the district finals,'' Shanower said. ``They know our weaknesses and though the score didn't reflect it, they played a much better game than we did.''

-- MELISSA MARTI

• Region 4-6A quarterfinal -- Krop d. Coral Park 22-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-17: The Lightning (23-2) came together once again, rallying around the injured Brittany Dubins.

Although Dubins was hampered by a leg injury she sustained during the district championship tournament, she sparked Krop with 13 kills. The Lightning will host Hialeah at 3 p.m. next Tuesday in the regional semifinals.

Krop coach Caron Schiffman said that before the game, Dubins told her that she wanted to play despite the injury.

``Brittany told me, 'I'm here if you need me [coach]','' Schiffman said. ``I really didn't want to play her at all, but I could sense that the girls needed to get pumped up out there so I threw her in and whenever she got a kill or made big play, it got us going.''

-- J.T. WILCOX

• Region 4-2A quarterfinal -- Palmer Trinity d. Florida Christian 25-13, 25-18, 25-17: Palmer dominated from the outset and were able to attack incessantly courtesy of sophomore Paulina Prieto who led the charge with nine kills, four aces, and nine blocks. Prieto was also fundamental in the frontline defense as they were able to neutralize the Patriots Meghan Doyle.

Palmer's offense was not only being run through Prieto but also senior Sarah Alfonso (40 assists, three blocks) as well as Kristen Titley (four aces, five kills). Savannah Dominguez (four kills, three blocks) and Lauren Boss (five kills, two aces) were vital contributors to the Falcon cause.

-- JUAN ARANGO

• Region 4-4A quarterfinal -- Mater Academy d. Archbishop McCarthy 22-25, 23-25, 25-16 25-23, 15-2: The host Lions overcame a two game deficit and dominated the fifth set, scoring 13 points in a row behind a flawless service run from Natasha Naveda and beating McCarthy on a kill from senior Jenna Isaacs.

``The first two sets, my heart was breaking,'' Isaacs said. ``But ourwhole team, we brought it back together, and that's the best feeling in the world. -- I'm going to cry right now.''

Isaacs finished with 24 kills and one block, and senior Maria Madrid had 17 kills and two blocks.

-- EVAN DREXLER

• Region 4-4A -- Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons d. Norland, 25-4, 25-9, 25-9.

• Region 4-2A quarterfinal -- Westminster Christian d. Miami Country Day 25-18, 25-17, 25-18: Julie Trembley had 15 kills, five digs. Deanna Etzold had 11 kills, nine assists, five digs. Rebbecca Acevedo had 34 assists, nine kills, four aces. WC 23-5.

• Region 4-6A quarterfinal -- Hialeah d. Goleman 25-17, 25-19, 23-25, 25-9: Jasmine Wilkin led Hialeah with 13 kills and five blocks. Miriah Reynold had six kills and five blocks. Jennifer Maron had 23 assists.

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