Southwest boys upset Killian to win GMAC volleyball title

All season long, the Southwest boys volleyball had quietly waited for a chance to prove that its undefeated record was no fluke.

On Wednesday, the Eagles jumped right in and did all the proving as they tore through two matches to get themselves into the finals and then proceeded to stun defending state champion and tournament favorite Killian 25-20, 29-27 to win the boys volleyball GMAC championship at Sunset High School.

Southwest (23-0) did it thanks to a nice gameplan, some great teamwork and a fire plug freshman named Jack Hershman. Hershman might be a freshman but played like a senior on the floor, leading the way for his team with 11 kills but also playing the role of team leader, constantly getting his team fired up.

The Eagles had five match points in the final set and, after Killian and All-State star Jomar Mondestin (16 kills) fought off four of them, Jonathan Ashby got called for touching the net giving the Eagles the clinching point.

:Intensity is the key, it’s what carries us and that’s how it was out on that court for us today,” said Hershman. “Beating a team like Killian, it’s such an honor. We have so much respect for those guys and what they’ve accomplished so beating them today is huge for us going forward.”

“Jack’s a very energetic kid that loves the sport,” said Southwest coach Alex Rivero who coached the girls teams to a state final four appearance last November and hopes to do the same for the boys. “He’s just so committed to playing the sport and you could just watch him out there on the court and see the energy he brings to our team.”

The Cougars started the season 18-0 but have now lost three of their last four, the other two to nationally-ranked Cardinal Gibbons in the Jungle Queen Classic and are now 20-3. Killian did well just to make the final as the Cougars, after splitting two sets with Palmetto in the semifinals, trailed the Panthers 12-10 in the third and decisive set before scoring the final five points to rally for the win.

Said Rivero: “Killian is a very well-organized, well-coached team and it took every bit of what we had to find a way to get this done today. Our team is very young and today was a testament to the hard work they’ve been putting in all offseason. Our kids had been dying to play a top level team and you can’t get any more top level than the defending state champs that have most of their team back.”

GMAC RESULTS

QUARTERFINALS

• Southwest def. Krop 25-18, 25-12

• Ferguson def. Miami Springs 25-23, 25-20

• Palmetto def. Miami High 25-14, 25-12

• Killian def. Miami Beach 25-14, 25-15

SEMIFINALS

• Southwest def. Ferguson 25-18, 25-17

• Killian def. Palmetto 22-25, 25-13, 15-12

BILL DALEY

GIRLS’ TENNIS

▪ District 13 — Marjory Stoneman Douglas wins district title: No. 1 singles — Ilana Gomez Diaz (FTL) d. Lekha Varudandi (MSD) 6-4, 6-4; No. 2 singles — Madison Leal (MSD) d. Sophia Tirico (STA) 6-3, 6-2; No. 3 singles — Amanda Aponte (MSD) d. Alejandra Coronel-Zegarra (STA) 6-4, 6-4; No. 4 singles – Olivia Martinelli (MSD) d. Neera Kennedy (STA) 6-2, 6-0; No. 5 singles — Gayatrisai BabuSuganya (STA) won; No. 1 doubles — Lekha Varudandi/Madison Leal (MSD) d. Kelly Antkierwicz/Sophia Tirico (STA) 6-2, 6-4; No. 2 doubles — Amanda Aponte/Olivia Martinelli (MSD) d. Alejandra Coronel Zegarra/Neera Kennedy (STA) 6-7, (9-11), 6-3, 10-2.

▪ District 15-2A — American Heritage wins district title, Pine Crest runner-up: No. 1 singles — Natalie Block (AH) wins 5-2 (retired); No. 2 singles — Mary Lavin (PC) wins 4-6, 6-3, 10-6; No. 3 singles — Lauren James (PC) wins 6-2, 6-3; No. 4 singles — Kennedi Carter (AH) wins 6-4, 6-7, 10-5; No. 5 singles — Emily Stouch (AH) wins 6-1, 6-1; No. 1 doubles — Ellen Ashley/Natalite Block (AH) win (default); No. 2 doubles: Anya Gunawardena/Kennedi Carter win 6-4, 6-3.

▪ District 16-1A — Miami Country Day wins district title: Singles winners Alexi Bassette (No 1), Gabby Martinez (No. 2), Lolita Bell (No. 3), Danni Bernstein (No. 4) and Alicia Rodriguez (No. 5). Doubles winners Bassette/Martinez (No. 1), Bell/Bernstein (No. 2).

BOYS’ TENNIS

▪ District 15-2A — Pine Crest wins district title, American Heritage runner-up: No. 1 singles — Jameson Corsillo (PC) wins 7-5, 6-4; No. 2 singles — Jameson Corsillo (CG) wins 6-4, 6-1; No. 3 singles — David Lins (PC) wins 6-2, 6-1; No. 4 singles — Chris Kotite (PC) wins 6-3, 6-2; No. 5 singles — Benjamin Bernstein (PC) wins 6-2, 6-2; No. 1 doubles — David Lins/Sergey Golovnev (PC) win 6-4, 6-4; No. 2 doubles — Daniel Gale/Andrew Pereverzev win 6-2, 6-1.

▪ District 16-1A — Miami Country Day wins district title: Singles winners — Louis Siegler 6-0, 6-1; Milan Bass 6-0 6-0; Evan Meiselman 6-0 6-0; Morgan Wiesberg 6-3 6-2 and Harrison Breslow 6-0 6-1; Doubles winners – Louis/Milan 6-0 6-0; Evan/Morgan 6-3 6-0.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

▪ District semifinal: St. Thomas Aquinas 19, Plantation 0: Carly Steinlauf 3 goals, 3 assists; Jada Preston 2 goals, 3 assists.

SOFTBALL

▪ Keys Gate Charter 1, Key West 0: WP: Erin McGlothlin 4 hits, 7 K’s; Ana Richiez 2-3, run; Janessa Benavides: 1 for 3, RBI.

▪ Keys Gate Charter 7, Archbishop McCarthy 3: WP: Erin McGlothlin 8 Ks; Madison Wells 3-4, 2B, 3B; Lauren Richardson 2-3, 3 RBI; McGlothlin: 3-4, 3B.

▪ Carrollton 12, University School 1: WP: Melanie Florez (5-4); Caroline Dowell-Esquivel 3-4, 2B, 3B; Melanie Florez 3-3, 3 runs; Eli Bec 2-4, 3B. CAR: 7-8

▪ Carrollton 15, Archbishop Carroll 0: WP: Melanie Florez (6-4); Vanessa Lopez-Trujillo 3-4, 3 2Bs, 3R; Eli Bec 1-2, 3R; Taylor Jauregui 1-2, 2R. CAR: 8-8.

▪ TERRA 7, Ferguson 2: Arellano 1-3, R; Wagner 2-3, RBI; Sanchez 2-3, run; Holthaus 1-2, R; Rojas 1-2, 2 RBI; Garcia 1-3, 2 RBI, 3B; WP. Sanchez- 7IP, 1 ER, 18 K’s. TER; 15-4

▪ Westminster Christian 8, Doral Academy 3: WP — Victoria Perez (8-0) CG, 7 Ks; Victoria Perez 3-4, HR, 2 RBI; Lindsey Arana 2-3, HR, 2 RBI; Megan Diaz 2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI. WC: 18-6.

BASEBALL

▪ Belen Jesuit 17, TERRA 3: WP: Alejandro Torres; SV: Alec Arrizurieta; Gabe DeZendegui 5-5, 2B, 3 RBI; Humberto Torres 3-4, HR, 3 RBI, 3 runs; Alejandro Torres 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI; Christian Eiroa 2-2, HR, RBI, 3 runs. BEL: 14-7.

▪ Doral Academy 6, Sunset 2: Gaby Gutierrez 2-4, R, 5 RBI; Adrian Figueroa 2-3; Dominic Pitelli 1-2, 2 runs; WP: Victor Cabrera.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

▪ Hialeah-Miami Lales d. Hillel 25-16 25-13 26-24: Alain Martinez 25 assists 12 digs; Kevin Mena 12 kills 8 blocks; Tomas Di Costanzo 8 kills 5 blocks; Esteban Rondon 5 kills 18 digs. HML: 6-5• St. Brendan d. Belen Jesuit 3-1 (25-23, 26-24, 23-25, 25-21): Brandon Fernandez 15 kills, 6 blocks; Carlos Plana 29 assists, 20 digs, 4 blocks; Chris Iglesias 7 Kills, 4 blocks; Chris Rodriguez 8 kills, 2 blocks. STB: 14-9.

GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL

▪ Braddock 20, Coral Reef 0: Katrina Hernandez 150 yds passing, 3 TD; Kayla Alvarez 4 rec. 85 yards 2 TD; Abril Varona 1 rec TD; Sasha Sanchez INT. BR: 4-4.