Freedom holds off DP to reach state

After Freedom relied on the block to slow down Dr. Phillips, it made sense that the undefeated Patriots clinched a dramatic boys volleyball state play-in game victory with a fifthgame block involving

on Tuesday night.

Benzari totaled blocks and

added 22 kills to help the visiting Patriots outlast Dr. Phillips 25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 15-11.

Freedom (28-0) will play Miami Ransom Everglades in a state quarterfinal on Friday night at Golden Gate High School of Naples.

nine

had 21 kills to lead the upset-minded Panthers (19-8). After Barnett burned Freedom for 11 kills in the first two games, the Patriots switched up the block in game three to defend Barnett.

Dr. Phillips took the fourth game by getting other players into the match.

began setting who totaled 10 kills. That eventually let Barnett back into the match.

With the match tied two games apiece, Freedom raced to a 4-1 lead, most of it off kills by Hermida and

Dr. Phillips cut the deficit to 10-9 on an

solo block. But the Patriots stayed one step ahead before clinching the match on a block by Rivera and Bensari.

Hermida had 22 kills and Rivera added 19 kills.

had 25 assists and had 23 assists in Freedom’s 6-2 offense.

“This gives us energy, because the last (area) team to go 25-0 was DP (two years ago). To be able to beat them was a great accomplishment,” Hermida said.

Lake Mary (23-4) also punched its ticket for a boys volleyball state tournament trip with a road win against Winter Park (16-8).

had 12 kills in a 25-14, 25-17, 25-11 sweep for the Rams.

added 20 digs. “They did great. I thought they were going to go a little flat coming off of prom on Saturday, and practice wasn’t great, but they came ready to go,” Lake Mary coach

said of his team. “They wanted it. As much as I wanted it, they wanted it more.”

The Rams will play their quarterfinal at 1 p.m. on Friday in Naples.

The Dr. Phillips girls flag football team is 13-0 and ranked No. 3 in Class 2A by FloridaHSfootball.com going into Wednesday night’s District 3 championship game at home.

The Panthers will Timber Creek at 6.

DP won its semifinal 38-0 vs. West Orange on Tuesday with senior QB

throwing four TD passes. Phillips linebacker who broke all of the Panthers’ tackle records over his four years of high school football received an offer from Akron University head coach on Dr. play Wednesday.

“Forget FCS or FBS, it’s just nice to be wanted by someone. To see someone noticed the work you put in,” Meeks said.