Ever since becoming Ransom Everglades’ volleyball coach, Roger Peluso’s goal has been to make the Raiders a state title contender.

For the third consecutive season, Ransom is on the brink of competing for one.

Using their combination of size and experience, Ransom Everglades swept rival Gulliver on Tuesday night 25-8, 25-20, 28-26 in a Region 4-4A semifinal at the Gulliver gym.

Ransom Everglades (27-2), which is chasing its first berth in the state final four since 1994, has been denied a trip to state each of the past two seasons by a Broward County foe (North Broward Prep and Cardinal Gibbons).

This Saturday night, the Raiders will face another as they host Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna at 7 p.m.

“This is as good a chance as we’ve had because we have a great group that has put in the commitment together to get to this point,” Peluso said. “The players are there, and we’re solid at every position.”

Ransom feels more confident for three reasons.

The Raiders returned their entire roster from last season’s team.

They also feature a starting lineup with five of six starters at least measuring 5-9 or taller that has helped them overpower opponents as it did Gulliver on Tuesday.

And Ransom, which has victories over several fellow state title contenders including Westminster Christian this season, beat Chaminade in its lone meeting this season at the Smoothie King Invitational in October.

“I really don’t know what to expect, because that was a very close match that could have gone either way,” Peluso said. “It helps to play them at home. But we have to be at the top of our game because it has the potential to be that way again Saturday.”

Kathryn Trinka, an Emory University commitment, led the Raiders again with 17 kills and 16 digs. Several of those helped Ransom survive a couple of set points in the third after Gulliver a 25-24 and 26-25 lead.

Setter Nikki Colonna finished with 39 assists, and Lisette Tellez and Tere Bernace each had good games on the back row with 12 and 10 digs respectively. Erika Slaver also had 10 kills and three blocks.

‘ASYLUM’ READY

Miami High’s gym, long nicknamed “The Asylum” will host its first high school basketball event Wednesday and Thursday nights.

The Miami High girls’ basketball preseason classic tips off Wednesday with a four-team classic featuring the host Stingarees, defending state finalists Lourdes and Norland and playoff regular Monsignor Pace. Tickets are $5.

Schedule – Wednesday: Pace vs. Miami High, 6; Lourdes vs. Norland, 7:30; Thursday: Lourdes vs. Pace, 6; Miami High vs. Norland, 7:30.

MORE VOLLEYBALL

•  Region 8-3A semifinal — Westminster Christian d. Palmer Trinity, 25-18, 25-16, 25-7: Henry Hernandez, a former University of Miami first baseman, isn’t the only big hitter in the family.

His daughter, All-State outside hitter Sylvia Hernandez, pounded out 17 kills to lead the host Warriors (25-4) to their third win of the season over Palmer Trinity (19-6).

It was the third consecutive season that the Warriors had eliminated Palmer from the playoffs.

Westminster needs a win on Saturday against Calvary Christian to return to the state semifinals for the second consecutive year.

In Tuesday’s match, the Warriors never trailed. There were three ties in the first set, and Palmer was as close as 9-8, but Westminster put together a 6-0 run and cruised from there.