Lake Nona riding its win streak into region playoffs
Lake Nona will carry an 11-match win streak and a No. 2 area ranking into its region quarterfinal girls volleyball match against Olympia next Wednesday.
That momentum was building even before this season began. The Lions returned nine seniors from a 2019 team that finished 18-3 and added even more firepower with the emergence of juniors Isabella Rujano and Gabriella Karman this season.
Coach Jake Penaloza tweaked the lineup and rotation after his team lost for the second time against Sentinel Super Six No. 1 Lyman (24-1) on Sept. 26. Lake Nona hasn’t lost since.
“Bella was playing a lesser role until we changed the lineup,” Penaloza said. “She really took advantage of that and it’s taken our team up to the next level.”
Rujano is a 5-foot-10 outside hitter now playing alongside of Karman, a 6-1 middle blocker.
“Defenses having to focus more on Gabby this year has opened up the door for Isabella,” Penaloza said.
Cambry Pope, 5-11 outside hitter, and Nyah Molina, a 5-8 setter signed by Stetson University, are top players in Lake Nona’s senior class.
The Lions will be home for their Wednesday night Class 8A, Region 3 quarterfinal match against Olympia (7-8), which pulled off a playoff surprise when it ousted Dr. Phillips in a district semifinal on Wednesday.
The Titans lost the District 9 final against Windermere (8-2).
Penaloza has been working with his senior group since they were ninthgraders. He was Nona’s JV coach and a varsity assistant until taking over the head coaching duties last season.
Lake Nona is No. 2 in the Sentinel Super Six rankings behind Lyman (24-1), which dealt the Lions two regular-season defeats. The other Lake Nona loss was against Hagerty (13-5), which is in Region 2.
“Lyman is really good,” Penaloza said. “I’d be interested in seeing how playing them again would go with the lineup adjustments we’ve made.
“Obviously it would be great to see them again because that would be in the state final.”
Lyman is in the top half of the 32-team 7A bracket, as is Hagerty. Lake Nona is in the bottom half. If the Lions win three region matches and a Nov. 7 state semifinal, they could play Lyman for the state championship, Nov. 13, in Fort Myers.
The Greyhounds play at home against Orange City University (6-10) on Wednesday.
Hagerty hosts Boone (13-7) on Wednesday. DeLand (15-6) will be home against Lake Mary (15-5) in a matchup of Super Six teams.
Tavares (15-4) celebrated its first volleyball district championship in 21 years when it beat Menendez of St. Augustine in a three-set sweep. The Bulldogs will host Bishop Moore (11-4) in a 4A region match on Thursday.
Lake Highland Prep (11-4), last season’s 4A state champ, dropped its first set against Bishop Moore in the District 10 final but bounced back to win 3-1. The Highlanders will host Menendez (10-11) on Thursday.
Trinity Prep (11-4) dealt Orangewood Christian (14-1) its first loss of the season with a 25-19, 22-25, 25-23, 25-17 victory in the 3A, District 4 final. The Saints will be home on Thursday against Daytona Beach Father Lopez (10-2) while Orangewood must travel to play Ocala Trinity Catholic (13-6).
Other district champions hosting matches on Wednesday are Windermere, Kissimmee Osceola, Lake Brantley, Winter Park and East Ridge in 7A; Winter Springs in 6A; and Pine Ridge in 5A.
Geneva School (11-4) will host a 2A region quarterfinal against Merritt Island Christian (11-4) on Thursday.
Next week’s winners will advance to semifinals to be played Tuesday, Oct. 27, for Classes 2A through 4A; and Wednesday, Oct. 28, for Classes 5A through 7A.