‘They were really disappointed’

Lake Worth Christian’s run at 3-peat ends

The Lake Worth Christian girls volleyball team’s aspirations of winnings its third consecutive 2A state championship came to a halt against Seacrest Country Day, losing in five sets, 25-20, 11-25, 25-19, 24-26 and 13-15, on Wednesday at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers.

Having won 15 of their previous 16 matches, the Lake Worth Christian Defenders (27-5) were hoping to avenge their loss earlier in the season against the Seacrest Country Day Stingrays.

“They were really disappointed because obviously, they fell short of their goal,” Lake Worth Christian coach Terri Kaiser said, who has won five state titles (2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2020) with the program.

“But, I kept reminding them, thousands of girls would wish to be just in this game you know looking on the bright side,” Kaiser said. Seniors, we’re going to miss you. You know, hey you gave it everything you give. You created an environment for volleyball to be a good thing at Lake Worth Christian. I said ‘to the rest of you, you don’t want to feel like this again, so let’s work hard in the offseason and try to get back.”

Senior outside hitter Kelly Franklin and junior middle blocker Abigail Toeniskoetter led the Defenders, tallying 14 and 15 kills, respectively.

Along with placing first and second on the team in kills during the game, Franklin — the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Palm Beach 5A-2A player of the year last season — also recorded 15 digs and one service ace, while Toeniskoetter contributed four service aces and two digs.

“She [Franklin] put the team on her back and kind of went after it,” Kaiser said. “There was kind of a spot where she was scoring all the way around, you know outside, back row and serving from the beginning of the game . ... But, then it became hard to score because the other team kind of moved their defense around a little bit . ... She was a go-to today”

Sophomore Sarah Montero led the way for the Defenders defensively, collecting a team-high 21 digs. Junior setter Lucianna Marinella and sophomore setter Sofia Aguilera combined for 41 of the team’s 42 assists.

The Defenders reached the state finals by beating True North Classical Academy in the regional quarterfinals, Trinity Christian Academy in the regional semifinals, Boca Raton Christian in the regional finals and Orangewood Christian in the state semis.