Braddock avenges regular-season losses to Belen

After losing both regular-season matches to Miami Belen in straight sets, the Miami Braddock boys’ volleyball team won a thriller in five sets over Belen (27-25, 19-25, 25-17, 22-25, 16-14) for a district championship.

It was a grinding, seesaw battle throughout.

In the fifth set, Braddock built an 11-4 lead, but Belen regrouped and went ahead 14-13. On match point, the Bulldogs stayed alive, tying it at 14 on a block by John-Marcos Gonzalez and Jorge Santos.

Gonzalez then put Braddock up 15-14 with a kill off an assist by Nicholas Mirabal. Manuel Leon’s serve sealed the championship for the Bulldogs.

For the match, JohnMarcos Gonzalez 30 kills, 16 digs an ace and a block; Nicholas Mirabal 57 assists, 10 digs; Manuel

Leon 15 kills, 14 digs and two blocks.

The champs are Alejandro Zellek, Nicholas Mirabal, Jorge Santos, Marlon Zamora, Manuel Leon, Lucas Perez-Malo, Michael Perez, Jordy Zambrano, Rollie Temprana, Sebastian Paz, John-Marcos Gonzalez, Aaron Cerda, Michael Williams,

In Tuesday’s region semifinal, Braddock (16-9) will face Southwest.

BOYS’ DISTRICT VOLLEYBALL

Southwest d. Columbus ● 20-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-21: Miami Southwest outlasted Miami Columbus to win a district championship.

Outside hitter Jack Hershman totaled 18 kills, 6 digs, 3 aces. Middle blocker Frank Kassem recorded 8 kills, 2 blocks. Libero Alejandro Leon added 12 digs, 5 aces, 8 assists.

The district champion Eagles (22-5) are: Christopher Aoun, Jonathan Bulnez, Ángel Cobo, Alessandro DeLaO, Carlos Gancedo, Gerry Gonzalez, Jack Hershman, Frank Kassem, Alejandro Leon, Erick Pinzon,

Jesus Vivas. The head coach is Alain

Suarez, and the assistant coaches are Nekane Mendizabal, Stephen Diaz and Joshua Perez.

IMATER ADVANCES

iMater Academy made school history by winning its first district title in boys’ volleyball.

The Knights (15-10) beat Northwestern and Hialeah High to advance. Consistent serving, keeping the momentum and finishing strong by playing their game keyed the effort.

iMater Academy, a charter school in Hialeah, opened eight years ago.

Coach Daniel Benitez started the boys’ volleyball program in the 2018-19 school year. COVID canceled boys’ volleyball last season. Play returned this season just in time for iMater to make history.

Benitez said: “I so am proud of these guys. They have worked all season long for this goal. We met in the beginning of the season wanting to make school history. To win the first district title in school history in any sport is a big deal.”

The district champion Knights are:

Senior Jordan Chevalier (Captain Setter / Opposite), Senior Jose Avila (Setter / Opposite), Junior Roberto Esteban (Middle / Outside Hitter), Senior Gabriel DavilaCampos (Libero), Junior Eduardo Hernandez (Outside Hitter), Senior Victor Hernandez (Defensive Specialist / Outside Hitter), Senior Pedro Ramos (Middle Hitter), Sophomore Carlos Rugama (Defensive Specialist), 7th Grader Jacob Savitz (Defensive Specialist), Sophomore Davis Benitez (Opposite Hitter), Sophomore Adam Martin (Setter / Middle), Senior Marlon Medina (Outside Hitter / Middle Hitter), Sophomore Elio Martin (Setter / Defensive Specialist).

Benitez’s assistant coaches are Tiffany Herrera and Stephanie Novoa.

iMater advances to the region semifinal on Tuesday against Hialeah Gardens.

District Championship: iMater d. Hialeah High 25-13, 27-25, 25-23:

Eduardo Hernandez 1 ace, 12 kills, 1 assist, 15 digs; Gabriel Davila-Campos 16 receptions, 12 digs; Jordan Chevalier 3 aces, 8 kills, 19 assists, 15 digs; Jose Avila 5 kills, 19 assists, 1 dig; Marlon Medina 2 ace, 13 kills, 23 digs.

District Semifinal: iMater d. Northwestern 25-10, 25-15, 25-19: Eduardo Hernandez 6 aces, 4 kills, 7 digs; Jordan Chevalier 5 aces, 6 kills, 8 assists, 7 digs; Jose Avila 5 aces, 3 kills, 12 assists; Marlon Medina 2 aces, 6 kills, 1 dig.

HIALEAH GARDENS ADVANCES

iMater wasn’t the only team making a mark in a district final. Tuesday’s opponent Hialeah Gardens won the school’s first boys’ volleyball district title, too.

Hialeah Gardens, which went winless against Ronald Reagan during the regular season (losing in three sets each time), upset the Bison in a grueling, five-set battle for the district championship.

Top performers were senior Alex Cabrera (25 digs, 31 receptions, 3 aces) , senior Emmanuel Arbolaez (6 kills, 6 blocks, 1 ace) and junior Gabriel Perez (15 kills, 2 blocks, 2 aces).

MORE VOLLEYBALL

Krop d. ATM 25-18, 27-25, 25-16: ●

Ben Bregman assisted on 98% of all kills, 8 serve points; Aden Ben-Saadon 15 kills, 2 aces, 10 service points; Amar Maniar 6 kills, 2 blocks; Joshua Behar 5 kills, 3 service points; Ethan Ohana 2 kills, 4 blocks, 2 aces, 7 service points.

Michael Odzer 7 kills, 2 blocks; Libero Steven Benaim 98% pass rate, 1 ace, 5 service points; Back row player Ryan Curtis 97% pass rate, 3 aces, 9 service points.

The Lightning, coached by Gerard Daniels, plays Hialeah Educational Academy on Tuesday in a region semifinal.

Cardinal Gibbons d. Pine Crest

●

25-20, 25-21, 25-17: Thiago Zamprogno 12 kills, 3 blocks, 2 service points, 2 aces, 1 dig. The Chiefs play St. Thomas Aquinas on Tuesday in a region semifinal.

STATE BASKETBALL HONORS

The Florida Association of Basketball Coaches (FABC) and Source Hoops presented the 2020-2021 Boys’ Class 5A All-State Teams.

Including two from Broward and Miami Dade counties, 15 players (first team, second team, third team) represented the best of the best for schools that participate in Class 5A.

Those players were selected based on in-person evaluations, a review of all-area teams selected by media from around the state and recognition from the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches.

FIRST TEAM

Diego Plata, 6-7 Sr, Auburndale; Jamil Bowles, 6-5 Sr, Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee; Tony Green, 6-6 Sr, Naples; Kolby King, 6-2 Jr, Pembroke Pines Charter; Ryan Weir, 6-0 Sr, Tampa

Jesuit.

SECOND TEAM

Junior Sylvestre, 5-11 Sr, Fort Myers Cypress Lake; Camerin James, 6-6 So, Leesburg; Cam Johnson, 6-5 Jr, Miami Norland; Josiah Sabino, 6-3 Jr, Orange Park; Jamar Franklin, 6-4 Jr, Rockledge.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL ALL-STAR GAME

The Miami Dade Boys’ Volleyball All Star Game is May 21 at iMater Academy.

The North will spotlight players from districts 2327, and The South will feature players from districts 28-32

Each coach can nominate 1-2 players (or more) and two 15-player rosters will be selected for the game.

Limited amount spectators will be allowed to attend. The game will be streamed on YouTube.

The event is being organized by iMater coach Daniel Benitez. Coaches can email him at:

dbenitez@imater.org.

SUBMIT POSTSEASON RESULTS

For high schools in Broward and Miami Dade counties, if you have varsity game results and stats for this column, email hssports@miamiherald.com. Varsity only.