As she held her four-week old son, Carlos, in her arms, Palmetto coach Kim Latshaw stood around like a proud mother in more ways than one Saturday afternoon.

Latshaw watched the program she helped develop into a Miami-Dade County girls' volleyball powerhouse over the past four seasons secure its biggest victory of the season against Krop, 25-18, 25-21, 21-25, 25-22 in a hard-fought Region 4-6A final at the Lightning's gym.

After the win, one of the Palmetto parents handed out T-shirts to the players that read ``C U at states.''

That signified the date the Panthers have Wednesday at The Lakeland Center with Royal Palm Beach in a Class 6A state semifinal at noon.

Palmetto (28-2) will make its first appearance at the Class 6A state final four since 1977, when longtime athletic director Yvette McKinney was the coach.

''This victory isn't about this year, it's a culmination of four seasons of hard work by these seniors,'' said Latshaw, who returned to the Palmetto bench recently after taking a month off for maternity leave. ``When I got here back then, they made a commitment to make this the team it is now.''

During Latshaw's absence, assistant coach Jeff Schneider, who played for Southwest High's 2003 state championship boys' volleyball team, coached several key matches, including Palmetto's first GMAC championship.

The Panthers finished with their best regular-season record in school history, but it wasn't easy as Krop (25-4) nearly rallied from a two-game deficit.

The Lightning made its second consecutive appearance in the regional final.

Behind a tenacious effort by hitters Brittany Dubins and Stephanie Toledo, Krop took the third game of the match and raced to a 6-0 lead in the fourth.

But the collective blocking by the Panthers swung the momentum back in their favor.

Carrie Comendiero had a block and two kills to cut the deficit to 9-8. Later, Devin Billbrough posted a pair of aces that helped tie the game at 14. Palmetto took an 20-17 edge on senior Amanda Marquez's three consecutive kills. Marquez would seal the match with two more kills after Krop had drawn to within two points.

Marquez, who signed a letter of intent to play softball for Villanova earlier this week, finished with a team-high 13 kills, 10 digs and two aces.

Marquez said jokingly that she would be the team's tour guide next week since she is the only player on the team that has played in a state tournament of some kind.

Marquez was the starting catcher on the Palmetto softball team that won a state championship in Plant City last spring.

''I'm glad all of us will get the chance to experience what it's like to go to state,'' Marquez said. ``After losing these past few years, this feels great.''

Palmetto took control of the first two games behind solid defense from the back row, led by Renata Comparini's 13 digs and four aces.

But Palmetto's serving broke Krop's momentum at several key moments during the match.

Billbrough finished with a team-high 10 aces, and Lewis had seven.

Comendiero played strong at the net as well, totaling nine blocks.

''At this point, the girls have played together so long that they each complement each other's role on the team perfectly,'' Latshaw said.

``The girls are level-headed and have kept getting better.''

• Palmer Trinity d. Calvary Christian: The Palmer Trinity Falcons are headed to the Class 2A final four -- again.

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