Central Florida volleyball teams pointing toward playoffs

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – If teamwork counts for anything, then the Lake Brantley High Patriots may march to a state championship this volleyball season.

Lake Brantley last week ripped through the Class 7A, District 3 tournament with ease and in the process grabbed a No. 1 seed for its region, which begins postseason play Wednesday, Oct. 26. The Patriots (21-6) swept Apopka and Clermont East Ridge to capture the championship.

Lake Brantley, ranked No. 9 overall in Florida and third in Class 7A by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), next will host rival Lake Mary in a regional quarterfinal. The top three classes in Florida (7A, 6A and 5A) all begin postseason play on Oct. 26. The smaller classes (4A, 3A, 2A) start Tuesday, Oct. 25.

“Last (Thursday night) was a solid performance by every player,” said Lake Brantley coach Allan Knight of the district title match against East Ridge. “It seemed as though each girl was having their best night as far as effectiveness and efficiency. Doesn't always happen like that. But it is good to see them all clicking in big games.”

Knight praised the Patriots’ Sam Bowron for recording a triple-double in the title match with 13 kills, 14 assists and 15 digs. Teammate Sarah Gooch had nine kills, five aces and 20 digs.

Now, Lake Brantley faces a Lake Mary team it has beaten twice this year, albeit in close matches (3-2, 2-1).

“The key to our success moving forward is to stay healthy and minimize our errors like we did (last Thursday) night,” Knight said.

Also receiving a No. 1 seed was New Smyrna Beach (20-2), which won the Class 6A, District 4 title with a 3-1 victory against Gainesville High. The Barracudas are ranked No. 3 in Florida and No. 1 in Class 6A, with their only losses coming to state powerhouses Miami Westminster Christian and Tampa Plant.

New Smyrna Beach has won 13 straight since falling to Plant over Labor Day weekend. The Barracudas, who are led by senior outside hitter Jaylynn Brown, junior setter Alyssa Kornegay, senior middle blocker Hannah Zona, and junior Libero Ivy Westfall, will host Niceville in the regional quarterfinals.

Viera, located in Brevard County, also snagged a No. 1 seed after sweeping South South Fork to win the Class 7A-7 title.

Also grabbing a No. 1 seed was Kissimmee Osceola, which won the Class 7A, District 6 championship with a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Lake Nona. Both schools are ranked in the top 25 in Florida.

Osceola is led by freshman sensation Cate Palmi, who has a staggering 501 kills; senior middle blocker Ahnika Johnston; and senior Libero Eimy Negron. The Kowboys, ranked No. 12 in Florida and No. 5 in Class 7A, will host Wellington on Oct. 26.

Lake Nona (16-6), ranked No. 25 in Florida and No. 9 in Class 7A, earned the No. 3 seed and will entertain Dr. Phillips the same day.

Orangewood Christian, which last season advanced to the Class 2A state semifinals, earned a No. 1 seed in the same class this year after winning the District 6 title. The Rams battled past the Geneva School, 3-2.

OCS (16-9) will host Orlando Christian Prep (12-9) in the quarterfinals on Oct. 25. The Rams are led by junior outside hitter Marissa Forness, eighth-grade outside hitter Kaleigh Langmo, senior Libero Jordan Parke, and senior setter Annmarie Herman.

In Class 4A, traditional power Bishop Moore (18-7) enters the playoffs as a No. 2 seed after winning the District 6 championship. The six-time state champ Hornets, who are ranked No. 14 in Florida and No. 3 in Class 4A, swept The Villages for the district title.

Bishop Moore will host Lake Placid (15-8) on Oct. 25. “We played great in unfamiliar territory against a challenging team,” said Bishop Moore interim coach Brian Reim.

Emily Schellenberg had nine kills and 22 digs; Sophia Iglesias, nine kills and 25 assists; and Jaide Wirth, eight kills and four blocks, for the Hornets in the title match.

Horizon out of Winter Garden (20-4) also grabbed a No. 2 seed in Class 6A after sweeping Lake Minneola for the District 6 title. The Hawks will host Stuart South Fork (16-11) on Oct. 25.

“The girls were ready and started very strong,” Horizon coach Ernest Rittenhouse said. “The first game at 25-11 was a reflection of a team very primed to make the win happen. Lake Minneola, to their credit, came back strong, but the initial statement had been made.”

Horizon won the second and third sets, 25-20, 25-16, respectively. Gwen Berry, Camryn Teasley, Hannah Pridgeon, and Hailey Cappleman led the Hawks with eight, nine, 10 and 11 kills, respectively.

Setter Juliana Neves had 33 assists and Libero Gabby Park, 13 digs, for Horizon.

Oviedo secured a No. 3 seed in Class 6A after outdueling rival Winter Springs, 3-2, for the District 5 title.

“I’m super proud of my girls,” said Oviedo coach Jen Darty, who led the Lions to a state title in 2018. “I think the way they came in with the mindset they had, the determination they showed and the way that they were playing it was really special. For all of these kids, there wasn’t a single one that had won a district championship.”

Oviedo (13-11) next hosts Lyman (15-11) on Oct. 26. Winter Springs will travel to Lakeland.

Hagerty (18-8) also pulled off a big win, 3-2, against Winter Park (20-7) in the Class 7A-4 championship match. Winter Park is ranked No. 9 in Florida, and No. 3 in Class 7A.

“It was a great game and I’m glad to be a part of it this year,” said Hagerty junior setter Emma Greenier. “Both sides played hard and went point for point towards the end. Hopefully, we can keep this momentum going from this title win to (this) week.”

Hagerty will host St. Johns Bartram Trail (19-8), while Winter Park entertains St. Johns Creekside (15-7) on Oct. 26.

Central Florida

High school volleyball

(Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard, Indian River)

FHSAA regional quarterfinals

Tuesday, Oct. 25

Class 4A

Space Coast at Alachua Santa Fe

The Villages at Astronaut (Titusville)

Lake Placid at Bishop Moore

Class 3A

Tallahassee Maclay at Deltona Trinity Christian Academy

Jacksonville Providence School at Trinity Prep

Montverde at Boca Raton St. Andrew’s

Windermere Prep at Lake Highland Prep

Holy Trinity Episcopal (Melbourne) at West Palm Beach-King’s Academy

Class 2A

Orlando Christian Prep at Orangewood Christian School

Lake Mary Prep at Geneva School

Vero Beach-St. Edward’s at Ocala St. John Lutheran

Faith Christian at Brevard HEAT (Palm Bay)

Wednesday, Oct. 26

Class 7A

Lake Mary at Lake Brantley

Timber Creek at DeLand

St. Johns Creekside at Winter Park

St. Johns Bartram Trail at Hagerty

Wellington at Kissimmee Osceola

Windermere at Olympia

Dr. Phillips at Lake Nona

Class 6A

Niceville at New Smyrna Beach

South Lake at Viera

Winter Springs at Lakeland

Stuart South Fork at Horizon

Lyman at Oviedo

Class 5A

Daytona Beach Seabreeze at Tallahassee Lincoln

Tavares at Deltona Pine Ridge

Lecanto at Merritt Island

District championship results

Thursday, Oct. 20

Class 7A, District 2

DeLand defeated Lake Mary, 3-0

Class 7A, District 3

Lake Brantley defeated East Ridge, 3-0

Class 7A, District 4

Hagerty defeated Winter Park, 3-2

Class 7A, District 5

Olympia defeated Dr. Phillips, 3-1

Class 7A, District 6

Kissimmee Osceola defeated Lake Nona, 3-2

Class 6A, District 4

New Smyrna Beach defeated Gainesville 3-1

Class 6A, District 5

Oviedo defeated Winter Springs, 3-2

Class 6A, District 6

Horizon defeated Lake Minneola, 3-0

Class 6A, District 7

Lakeland defeated St. Cloud, 3-1

Class 6A, District 8

Viera defeated Stuart South Fork, 3-0

Class 5A, District 6

Lake Wales defeated Kissimmee Gateway, 3-2

Class 5A, District 7

Deltona Pine Ridge defeated Tavares, 3-1

Class 5A, District 8

Merritt Island defeated Bayside, 3-0

Class 4A, District 6

Bishop Moore Catholic defeated The Villages, 3-0

Class 4A, District 7

Astronaut defeated Space Coast, 3-0

Class 3A, District 4

Ocala Trinity Catholic defeated Trinity Prep, 3-1

Class 3A, District 5

Lake Highland Prep defeated Montverde, 3-1

Class 3A, District 6

Holy Trinity Episcopal (Melbourne) defeated Edgewood (Merritt Island), 3-1

Class 2A, District 6

Orangewood Christian defeated Geneva School, 3-2

Class 2A, District 8

Brevard HEAT (Palm Bay) defeated Vero Beach-St. Edward’s, 3-2

Friday, Oct. 21

Class 2A, District 7

Orlando Christian Prep defeated Faith Christian, 3-1