Calvary Christian outlasts Orlando’s Bishop Moore to reach 4A state title game

FORT LAUDERDALE — When the season began, Calvary Christian Academy senior Gabby Brissett wasn’t convinced her team would make it to the state volleyball championship game.

But here they are following a 25-19, 24-26, 27-25, 20-25, 15-11 victory over visiting Bishop Moore in the FHSAA Class 4A state semifinal game on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles will face Santa Fe (28-3) in the state championship game on Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. at Suncoast Credit Union Arena (Fort Myers).

Brissett played a key role in the win for the Eagles, who are making their first trip to the state championship game as she added 18 kills and three blocks.

“I didn’t think at the beginning of the season we would come to this point, but seeing how we came together and played with one another and for one another we deserve it,” Brissett said. “It just came together for us. It was a nerve-wracking game. I was sitting on the bench squeezing my teammates’ hands. We wanted it so bad.”

Calvary Christian Academy senior and Liberty University signee Taylor Bates led the Eagles (26-4) with 25 kills, while junior

Emily Navarro dished out 33 assists. Eighth-grader Victoria Belfort and senior Jenna Keller each contributed four service aces.

“This is really cool,” Bates said. “It is something I am never going to forget. It is school history and hopefully next week we can set more school history that no one can break. It was a nail-biter for sure and it was intense. We were able to keep our composure at the end and pulled it out.”

Bishop Moore jumped out to an early 7-1 lead in the first set before Calvary Christian started to claw back in the match. Eighthgrader Victoria Belfort served eight straight points to give Calvary the lead for good at 17-12. The teams traded sets and eventually went to a fifth set tiebreaker. Calvary

Christian seized control off successive kills by Bates and Brissett to take an 11-6 lead. On match point, Bishop Moore was called for a rotation call. Handing the match to Calvary.

Bishop Moore has won six state titles, the last coming in 2016 when they won the Class 6A championship. Calvary Christian Academy is playing in its first state title game. Until this season, they never advanced past the regional finals.

“What a match,” said Bishop Moore coach

Tanya Jarvis Starrett. “Both teams are here for a reason and we knew it could definitely go to five sets. Number 22 (Bates) and number 12 [Brissett] are big weapons for them and we were hoping we could slow them down a little more than we did and their serving really hurt us because we were unable to incorporate our middles likes we wanted to. It was a big factor.”

The Eagles have won 14 straight games since a loss to Suncoast. Bishop Moore (23-8) saw their six-game win streak come to an end.

Bishop Moore senior Emma Schwieger paced the Hornets with 15 kills and 21 digs, while freshman Anika Groom had 13 kills and seven digs. Sophomore Sophia Iglesias had a game-high 30 assists.

Calvary Christian coach Sam Skelton said it was a great match. He is hoping to add a state indoor volleyball championship to three beach volleyball state titles the school won from 2017-19.

“They are a great team and their coach is a wonderful coach,” Skelton said. “I have nothing but respect for them. We have broken a number of records this year, but for me, I just love seeing these kids smile.”