Westminster Christian volleyball falls short for fifth consecutive time in state final
Every point seemed to be gut-wrenching.
Westminster Christian finished as state runners-up for the fifth consecutive season at the FHSAA girls volleyball state championships at Polk State College on Thursday.
Westminster lost 3-1 to Tampa Carrollwood Day after winning the first set 25-23, but dropping the next three 23-25, 19-25 and 27-29.
“I thought we worked hard and did everything we could do,” said Westminster head coach Julie Doan Kurenuma, who has been the head coach for 19 seasons. “We always try to make adjustments the whole match, to defend better and score better based on what they are doing. And they were good.”
The game-winning point was elusive for Carrollwood Day (31-2), which took a 1-point lead five times, before finally shaking a resilient Westminster (24-9) squad.
“They had the game point, and I told my teammates, ‘It is not over. We pushed all the way here not for this to end right now,’” said Westminster junior Zoey Matias, who dished out 23 kills with 19 digs. “After they made a point, we didn’t get down on ourselves. We just kept pushing because we knew we could do it.”
Westminster sophomore outside hitter Gigi Artiles led the effort with 26 kills and 22 digs.
“I think our team played with a lot of grit. Even though we were down, we tried our hardest and we fought until the end,” Matias said.
Carrollwood Day coach Doug Chinchar said the fourth-and-deciding set was the most-intense he has ever seen as a coach.
“Absolutely, and then you live and die with every play,” Chinchar said. “But I will tell you what, we never let them get the lead. Whenever they tied it, we were able to get that next point.
“We have a bunch of kids who play on a high level on the club levels. This was nothing we hadn’t seen before. The divisions we play in with 3A, prepares us for this. We were ready. When we lost our first (set) there was no doubt we weren’t coming back.”
Carrollwood was led by freshman outside hitter Lydia Chinchar with 35 kills and 19 digs. Junior libero Mattea Casale added 25 digs.
It was also the Warriors’ 10th appearance in the state final in the past 13 years, having won championships in 2013 and 2016.