Adapting to a new environment
Lake Worth Christian’s title chase comes amid pandemic
For Lake Worth Christian and girls volleyball coach Terri Kaiser, the idea of potentially repeating as the 2A state champion this season began to come into question with the uncertainty surrounding COVID19.
Because of safety concerns with the coronavirus pandemic, the Broward and Palm Beach counties’ athletic departments opted out of the Florida High School Athletic Association state series, leaving private schools to make their own decisions.
Navigating through unfamiliar territory, Kaiser and the Defenders must overcome scheduling adjustments while adapting to the new norms in hopes of winning the program’s fifth state title.
“It was kind of hard because we didn’t have club season to keep playing,” Kaiser said in a phone interview. “We usually play 12 months and that didn’t happen. Then, we started late... It’s been a lot of work for our Athletic Director [Austin Johnson] and myself. We go from 25 games to 14, it’s kind of tough.”
Beating Seven Rivers Christian 3-0 in the state title match last season, Lake Worth Christian (27-4) was anchored by former team captain and outside hitter Sarah Franklin, who has gone on to Michigan State University.
Franklin — last year’s Sun Sentinel Palm Beach 5A-2A girls volleyball player of the year — concluded her senior campaign with 621 kills, 181 digs and 160 service points, leaving a
significant role for the Defenders to fill.
Kelly Franklin, the younger sister of Sarah, is one of returners for the team who has accepted the challenge of a new role, entering her junior season as the team captain and outside hitter. Leading her squad in serving points (242) last season, Kelly also recorded 149 kills and 120 digs.
“What we’ve been able to do is kind of spread it out a lot instead of having one dominant hitter,” Kaiser
said. “There were three of our hitters that were behind Sarah [Franklin] last year... It’s not like a dominant Sarah Franklin role, it’s more of lets spread it out.”
Juniors Karly Horn and Alexis Jacobs are also primed to be notable contributors in the Defenders’ new “spread it out” approach, returning to the squad after recording a cumulative 252 kills.
In the case of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Raiders must also overcome the departure
of its top player from a year ago.
Despite losing Sun Sentinel Broward 7A-6A girls volleyball player of the year Carter Mogridge to a transfer to Tampa, St. Thomas Aquinas coach Lisa Zielinski emphasized her squad’s depth, noting how well the team performed in the postseason during a period where she had to miss a few matches.
“I have a lot of depth on my team,” Zielinski said. “You can even tell that because last year without
having [Carter] Mogridge in the postseason, as great as a player she is, I think we did extremely well as team moving on to the state finals.”
With Mogridge missing the postseason due to a torn ACL, outside hitter Meredith Dixon and setter Erin Engel had to step up to the plate, helping St. Thomas Aquinas (24-8) reach the 6A state finals against Tallahassee Leon. The Raiders fell to the Lions 3-1 in the state title match.
Placing second behind
Mogridge on the team in kills (251), Dixon comes into her junior year as one of the cornerstones for the Raiders. Engel will also be looked upon to fuel the team, entering her senior campaign after collecting 524 assists, 152 digs and 28 aces last season.
With Broward and Palm Beach counties’ athletic departments opting out of the FHSAA state series, Palm Beach Gardens will not get the opportunity to return the state title match for the fourth consecutive year.
Reaching the 7A state championship in each of the last three years, the Gators (21-7) fell 3-0 to Oviedo Hagerty last season.
Hannah Heide was one of the driving forces for Palm Beach Gardens over the past three years, earning the Sun Sentinel Palm Beach 7A-6A girls volleyball player of the year award her senior season.
Being one of six seniors to graduate last season, Heide and her former teammates leave numerous holes for new coach Amanda Crane to fill. Crane replaces Joy VanDyke, who was the coach for the Gators during their recent deep runs into the tournament.
“It’s been exciting just meeting all the girls,” Crane said. “Joining a great school and a great program has been awesome. I’ve coached before in the past and it’s been something I’ve wanted to get back into. This is just a great program to be part of.
“None of them have mentioned it,” Crane said on Palm Beach Gardens not being able to return to states this season. “I’m sure they’re bummed. Especially, having three years of going to states.
“But, I think they’re just happy to play and have a season.”
Senior middle blocker Kayla Thompson returns as one of the Gators most talented players, following a season where she compiled 161 kills, 28 solo blocks and 114 digs.