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Miami Country Day volleyball

Led by senior libero Ivana Vlahovic, the Miami Country Day School varsity girls’ volleyball team is poised to defend its district title and more.

Last season the Spartans were 19-6, and they expect to contend for a state berth and make this their best season in school history.

Vlahovic is a dymnamic libero who knows the game. A true competitor, she totaled 262 digs and recorded 37 aces in 2011. Breanna Blot, another returning senior, is tall and improved, impacting the offense and defense on the net. She had 112 kills and 40 blocks last season.

Junior Kayla Kotalik is a force all-around, coming off a season where she netted 142 kills, 123 digs and 51 aces. Freshman Lenee Blot recorded 115 kills as an eighth grader on varsity a year ago.

Winona Paez, a junior setter, had 204 assists and 51 aces in 2011. Callie Pumo, another junior setter, added 155 assists and 50 aces, making for a solid 1-1A set-up punch for Coach Olaya Pazo.

MCD Top Athletes

The Miami Country Day School Athletes of the Week for Week One:

Upper School Female Athlete of the Week: Kayla Kotalik (varsity volleyball) combined for 28 kills and 14 digs in matches against Gulliver, Palmer-Trinity and Monsignor Pace.

Upper School Male Athlete of the Week: Giovanni Cragnotti (swimming) won the 50 and 100 freestyles in a high school varsity meet against Mast Academy.

Middle School Female Athlete of the Week: Amelia Gregorio (swimming) won the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly in a high school varsity meet against Mast Academy.

Middle School Male Athlete of the Week: Juan Martin Caro (swimming) helped the 400 freestyle relay team finish second in a high school varsity meet against Mast Academy.

Spartan Super Fan: Dwight Spencer (freshman).

Palmetto golf

Palmetto High School varsity girls’ golf features a veteran team with three seniors competing varsity since they were freshmen. They’ve been integral in three consecutive GMAC team titles.

Molly Barlow, one of those seniors, is a two-time GMAC individual champion (freshman and junior years). Her average is 41 (9 holes) and 86 (18 holes).

Gabriella Montes, another of those seniors, is a region champ with a 42 stroke average (9 holes) and 87 (18 holes). Jasleen Chin-Sang, the other senior mainstay, is a district champ with a 44 stroke average (9 holes) and 89 (18 holes).

Led by the powerful Panthers trio, Palmetto has won three consecutive district titles, two region championships and one region runner-up trophy.

“I introduced a strength conditioning program for the golfer which has improved their drives by a couple of yards,” Palmetto coach Rosanna Karpiak said. “I am looking forward to the team putting up some great scores and making it back to the state finals for the ninth year in a row.”

Joning the trifecta includes seniors Valerie Arguelles and Erika Schumacher and junior Danielle Bouchard.

Last year, the Panthers went 10-1 in the regular season, won districts, was runner-up at region and placed 15th at state.

Montes is also a varsity tennis player for Palmetto and aspires to play both in college. As a top golf prospect, Chin-Sang was invited to compete in New York in the summer. She also volunteered three years with First Tee, a youth development organization that impacts young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through golf.