Westminster Christian volleyball returns to state with comeback win over Ransom
The gym at Westminster Christian only fits the smallest fraction of the Miami population. Yet, it must’ve felt like the whole city was on top of the Ransom Everglades Raiders as the opposing Warriors blitzed them for a 9-25, 25-20, 28-26, 25-21 Tuesday evening victory, giving Westminster a trip to the state final four for the fifth straight year.
Westminster Christian (23-8) will face Jacksonville Trinity Christian in the Class 3A state semifinal at Polk State College in Winter Haven next Tuesday at 10 a.m. If Westminster wins, the team will face either Orlando Lake Highland Prep or Tampa Carrollwood Day in the state final next Thursday at 4 p.m.
“We always know that it’s going to be hard,” Westminster Christian coach Julie Doan Kurenuma said. “I’m just super proud of our girls. Lots of bumps on the way this year, not maybe as smooth as we normally are.”
The surprise of the match came in the first set. Not spooked by the rowdy, wild atmosphere on Halloween, the Raiders controlled the gym, cruising to a 25-9 win.
“We tried to keep reminding them that Ransom is good, and they are in the same position we are,” Kurenuma said. “I don’t think anyone took anyone lightly at all. That wasn’t our approach whatsoever. They played great, and we were awful. So, really nice recovery on our end.”
Setting the tempo, the Raiders outside hitter Julia Lewkowitz earned eight kills in the set.
“She was great,” Kurenuma said. “We said in the beginning she is really good, and she is going to have kills because that’s what really good hitters do.”
In the decisive middle sets, the Halloween themed cast of characters motivated some life into the home team. With outfits ranging from a minion to Perry the Platypus, Westminster’s fans showed support for each hit from the green bleachers.
The Warriors’ Gigi Artilles rose to the rafters with eight kills in the second and third set to prevent any further Raiders damage. Along the way, Junior setter Zoey Matias added two aces and helped keep multiple 20-hit rallies alive.
“We really believe everybody has their role and if everybody doesn’t do their job to the best of their ability we are in trouble,” Kurenuma said. “I don’t think that anybody is more important than somebody else.”
After losing the second set 25-20 and the third 28-26, Ransom Everglades failed to spark any further life in the fourth. Artilles and Matias combined for 10 kills in the set, and the Warriors maintained a lead from start to finish, taking the final set 25-21.
“We prepared in July to be in the final four,” Kurenuma said.
With the win, Westminster Christian will have a chance at a state title for the fifth straight year.
The Warriors have not won since 2016 and enter a bracket with four teams ranked in the top 20 in the state.
“It’s really hard and all the teams that we played the last several years got knocked out already. There’s no answer. We are just going to try and give our best effort,” Kurenuma said.