Ferguson girls rally for win over Coral Reef and secure GMAC volleyball three-peat
During her four seasons playing for the Miami Ferguson girls’ volleyball team, senior Agatha Gonzalez has often made the big play or sparked her teammates to do the same, leading to plenty of success for the Falcons.
On Saturday afternoon with Ferguson’s grip on the GMAC championship seemingly in trouble, Gonzalez did the same - but on the sidelines.
“We really pulled through especially considering our situation,” said Gonzalez, a two-time All-Dade first team selection who started the season late due to a back injury. “It’s been a season of injuries for us but everyone stepped up and I just knew we could have brought that energy to win from the first set and that was my message to the team.”
Gonzalez’s words were heeded as Ferguson rallied after dropping the first set to beat Miami Coral Reef 19-25, 25-21, 15-11 and win its third consecutive GMAC crown at Miami Dade College’s Kendall campus gym.
It was the latest triumph for the Falcons (17-5), who also beat North Miami Beach Mourning in the semifinals and Miami Sunset in the quarterfinals of the tournament, and appear to be building momentum heading into the postseason.
“Agatha is a very skilled player and has the experience and leads by example,” Ferguson coach Michael Ramos said. “She got everybody back on the same page and everybody was able to pull together.”
The Falcons have not made it to the state final four since 2016 and are looking to make a deep playoff push this season after last year’s run ended with a disappointing loss to Doral Academy in the Region 4-7A semifinals.
Doral figures to once again be Ferguson’s toughest roadblock in the region.
But the Falcons hope their path leading to the playoffs will prepare them for the road ahead.
Ferguson’s victories in the GMAC followed it winning the Florida Christian Invitational last week, which included wins over Miami Ransom Everglades and Doral Divine Savior.
“Ever since that tournament we’ve taken more steps up than steps back and right now this is a huge step forward and I’m excited for the future of this team,” Gonzalez said.
The Falcons will next take on two more of South Florida’s premier programs when they play Miami Westminster Christian and Miami Lourdes Academy this week before the district playoffs, which begin the week of October 16.
“We have a very senior group and it’s just about fighting together and overcoming multiple injuries which we’ve had this season,” Ramos said. “We lost our top middle hitter and so these girls have pulled through together.”
Ramos said starting setter Mia Gonzalez was dealing with back spasms, but returned to action midway through the second set against Mourning.
With Gonzalez back on the court, she and Agatha Gonzalez keyed a strong second set for the Falcons against the Barracudas (16-8) to even the match. Olivia Riesgo and Isabella Marquez added some key kills in the third set as Ferguson jumped out to a 12-7 lead and hung on for the victory, clinching it on another Agatha Gonzalez kill.
“Mia pulled through, stretched and was able to pull it together and help us win it,” Ramos said.
This story was originally published October 8, 2023 at 9:23 AM.
