Since boys' volleyball began in Florida in 2003, Southwest always has been a team that was feared and revered.
After an undefeated regular season, the Eagles swept all three of their opponents in the inaugural state championship. Since then, the Eagles have been unable to reach the finals.
Southwest got a step closer Friday as the Eagles (25-2) beat Jupiter 25-21, 25-18, 25-18 in the quarterfinal match at Douglas High in Parkland.
The Eagles broke out of a 17-17 tie in the third game, outscoring the Warriors 8-1, en route to a berth in a state semifinal. Southwest will play Lake Mary at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the winner advancing to the title game at 4 p.m.
Jonathan Roldan, Southwest's middle hitter, placed hits down the line, as he anchored the Eagles' offense. Roldan, who tallied 349 kills during the regular season, had a team-high eight kills in Friday's victory.
''We want to be aggressive the whole time,'' setter Andre Abadin said. ``We have been working hard and playing well. We didn't want to start out slow and wait to see what they had.''
When Roldan was in the back row, the Eagles got plenty of offensive production from outside hitter Carlos Lopez. The senior had seven kills.
But after the first game, even Lopez's powerful hits were being returned. The Eagles made adjustments, finding ways around the block.
Early in the second game, a Southwest hitter jumped to attack, but the set was high, and Alex Rivero came in from behind with the kill.
''That play is to confuse the team,'' said Rivero, who had five kills. ``It is a real confidence-booster.''
Three plays later, Abadin sent a quick, short set to Richard Tamayo in the middle, and he fired it in front of the 10-foot line.
''We played smart,'' said Tamayo, who led his team in blocks with five. ``We are confident no matter who is hitting.''
Tamayo clinched the second game when, being faced with two blockers, swung hard and the ball ricocheted off the block and out of bounds.
With a two-game lead, the Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 start in the third game. But it didn't take long for the Warriors to catch up. The teams were tied at 18, before the Eagles surged.
Daniel Moreno had a block, Roldan followed with a kill and Rivero kept the Eagles ahead with a block. Two plays later, Roldan smacked a hit down the line for the 24-18 lead. The Eagles watched a free-ball land out of bounds -- the game-winner.
''It feels so good because all the hard work pays off,'' Eagles coach Mauricio Diaz said. ``We're on top of the mountain and it is a tribute to these guys. There is such leadership on this team.''
COLUMBUS FALLS
Trailing 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the state tournament, Columbus setter Jordi Fonts pleaded with his team to ''win three straight.'' But after tying the match at 2-2, the Explorers (22-5) fell in the fifth and decisive match to Olympia 22-25, 20-25, 26-24, 25-20, 16-14.
Despite ending its season a day earlier than planned and in heartbreaking fashion, Columbus coach Rene Rodriguez is proud of his team.
''I wanted a chance to be able to win,'' Rodriguez said. ``It was an up-and-down battle. But this team is one of a kind. If we had started a little better, it wouldn't have even reached five games.''
The Titans led 24-22 in the third game, but Columbus refused to lose in straight sets. After a Nick Navarro kill cut the lead to one and the Explorers forced a Titan error, the teams were locked in a tie at 24. Senior Michael Cano recorded two consecutive blocks on Olympia's 6-4 hitter Ian Karbiener to keep Columbus alive.
''Those blocks gave us life,'' said Navarro, who led the Explorers with 14 kills and added five blocks. ``We lost, but we came out playing very hard.''
In the fourth game, the Explorers took a 2-1 lead and never relinquished it, with Fonts recording the final kill. Michael Stevens, who had a team-high 350 kills in his senior campaign, had six of his 13 kills in the game.
The Titans took a 3-0 lead in the fifth, but Fonts continued to attack Olympia. Down 5-6, Fonts smacked two kills to give the Explorers their first lead of the game. The game was tied at 11, 13 and 14 before the Titans capitalized on two Columbus mistakes, to advance to the semis.
Fonts ended his season with an 11-kill, 23-assist night. Cano had eight kills and seven digs and Alex Lastra added 22 assists.
