Windermere reaches FHSAA state final
Ana Bleeker had 20 kills to lead three Windermere players in double figures Saturday to ensure the Wolverines’ record-setting girls volleyball season will end in the Class 7A state final in Fort Myers.
Windermere, playing on the road, beat previously undefeated Jupiter in a five-set semifinal thriller by scores of 28-26, 19-25, 25-21, 14-25, 15-12.
Bleeker, who signed Wednesday with Georgia, added 10 digs and a team-high five blocks for the Wolverines (27-4), who play 10-time state champion Tampa Plant for the title at 6 p.m. Thursday on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers.
Plant beat Doral Academy 25-15, 25-20, 25-23 on Saturday afternoon.
“Go for every ball. Don’t let anything hit the ground,” Bleeker said of the Wolverines’ strategy against Plant. “Do it for the person next to you. Do it for the team. It’s not a you-game anymore. It’s for the whole team.”
Windermere High, which opened in 2017, notched its first volleyball region final victory on Nov. 6 and now will make its first appearance in an FHSAA team state final in any sport.
Class 4A Bishop Moore and 2A Orangewood Christian lost in their final-four matches in South Florida. Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian beat the Hornets 25-19, 24-26, 26-24, 20-25, 15-11. Lake Worth Christian, vying for its third consecutive title, defeated Orangewood Christian 25-20, 25-21, 25-11.
Windermere dealt Jupiter (25-1) its first loss by overcoming 6-foot-4 outside hitter Sarah Brodner and 6-2 middle blocker Vivian Miller.
Ashtyn Sims had 14 kills and 3 blocks for the Wolverines.
“We tried to aim high over the block, and tool their hands to make an easy block,” Sims said.
Tennessee signee Kiki Granberry added 12 kills and 3 blocks for the Wolverines, who jumped to a 3-0 lead in the fifth game but were then tied 4-4. The match remained tight until the final point.
“I think the whole situation was mental,”
Windermere coach Daniel Fuentes said. “We were just trying to keep the energy up even when the scoreboard wasn’t.”
Bishop Moore (23-8), seeking its first state final 2017, fell just short. In the fifth set, the Hornets got as close as 13-11 before Calvary closed out the match.
Ole Miss signee Emma Schwieger had 15 kills and 21 digs for the Hornets, who struggled against 5-11 senior middle blocker Gabby Brissett and 5-10 outside hitter Taylor Bates.
“We knew we needed to pay attention to where they were,” Bishop Moore coach Tanya Jarvis Starrett said of the duo. “What also played into their favor and where we struggled was they had aggressive serving, which kept us out of system. We weren’t able to engage our middles as much as we hoped.”
Annika Groom had 13 kills for the Hornets, who got 10 blocks from Jaide Wirth, 25 digs from Lauren Bintilla and 30 assists and 11 digs from Sophia Iglesias.
“I’m extremely proud of how we fought, and the leadership the seniors showed at the end and how much we still pulled together even in a moment of defeat,” Jarvis Starrett said.
Orangewood (21-10) was seeking its first final since winning back-to-back Class 1A state championships in 2006 and 2007. But the Rams struggled to stop 6-3 middle blocker Abigail Toeniskoetter, who had 15 kills and 2 blocks. Kelly Franklin added 12 kills for the Defenders.
“We struggled with [Toeniskoetter] and struggled with serve receive,” said Orangewood coach Diane Langmo. “We weren’t really in system with our strongest attack plan capability.”
Marisa Forness had 12 kills to lead Orangewood. AnnMarie Herman added 18 assists, Sophie Benson had 3 blocks and Jordan Park contributed 14 digs. Senior Bella Boardman had 5 kills and 9 digs in the loss.
The FHSAA finals for all seven classifications will be played Wednesday and Thursday at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena.