Freedom, Lake Mary reach semifinals

Sometimes it’s not so easy being the unbeaten favorite.

Freedom found that out Friday night as the Patriots (29-0) had to gut out a tense five-set thriller vs. Miami Ransom Everglades (24-7) at the state boys volleyball tournament.

Freedom earned a trip to today’s semifinals with a 21-25, 25-21, 25-21, 20-25, 15-11 victory. The Patriots will play at noon vs. either Miami Killian, hoping to advance to a 4 p.m. championship match.

“When you’re No. 1 and undefeated, you’ve got that target on your back,” Patriots coach Gina McFerren said. “Everybody wants to be that team to beat you.

“Our kids did not play well tonight. They were a little tense, they were a little tight. I think the magnitude of the moment got to them a little bit. I’ve never seen us play this poorly, but we were able to pull it out. I’d rather win ugly than lose good, that’s for sure.”

Danny Hermida and Geraldo Rivera combined for 32 kills and 14 digs for Freedom.

Lake Mary carried a 26-1 record into last year’s state tournament but lost in the quarterfinal round. The Rams were determined not to see the same fate this time around and rallied from a 14-9 deficit in the first game to post a 25-20, 25-11, 25-23 victory over South Broward in their quarterfinal match.

Senior Jackson Harbin and junior Lawrence Saballo led a balanced Lake Mary attack with eight kills each.

Lake Mary (23-4) advances to a 10 a.m. semifinal today against Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (24-4), which rallied from a 2-0 deficit to stun previously unbeaten Boca Raton.

“I think last year, we were in awe, being our first time [with this group of players],” Lake Mary coach Louis Reyes said. “Almost an ‘Oh, my God, what have we got ourselves into’ feeling.

“But since the beginning of the season, the guys set that goal of not only making it back to states but doing some damage there. This is step one of three. We’ve got two more to get.”