Southwest volleyball tops Palmetto in four sets, will face nemesis Ferguson for fifth time in regional semifinals
When the recorded rendition of the national anthem wouldn’t play before Wednesday’s Region 4-8A quarterfinal, the Palmetto girls’ volleyball team stepped in and sang it out loud together.
As admirable as it was in the pregame, the performance was only outdone by what Southwest put together during the match in a four-set victory (25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 25-16).
The Eagles (17-5) advance to the regional semifinals and will travel to District 15-8A champion Ferguson — which swept a four-match season series from Southwest. Ferguson beat Killian in three sets on Tuesday to move on.
Jocelyn Garcia led the way with 24 kills and five blocks.
“My setter did all she she could. The passes were great,” Garcia said.
Mia Thomas had 46 assists while twin sister Mya registered 10 kills, including the clincher in the fourth game. The Eagles responded in that final set after dropping a tight third.
“I told them to stay very aggressive,” Southwest coach Alex Rivero said. “Palmetto’s known for dropping two sets and coming back and fighting hard.”
Southwest cruised in the second set, leading most of the way, and came from behind in the first with an 8-1 run to finish it thanks to four aces from Annabel Fernandez.
Julia Decker led Palmetto (16-6) with 11 kills, Addie Arill recorded 26 assists and Lauren Phillips had 19 digs.
MORE REGIONAL VOLLEYBALL
▪ 3-8A —Cypress Bay d. Monarch 25-20, 25-14, 25-18: The host Lighning (19-7) advanced to the regional semifinals for the third consecutive year. Monarch (20-9) kept the first and second sets close although Cypress Bay pulled away in both and racked up 11 consecutive points in the second.
“We started off a little flat, but then we got it in gear and we played really consistently for the rest of the match. I thought it was a really good finish,” Cypress Bay coach Jennifer Meyer said.
Junior Rebecca Lopez led Cypress Bay with six aces and the Lightning as a team had 17 aces compared to just four for the Knights. Sophomore Colleen Siebold finished off Monarch in the third set with her match-high ninth kill.
Cypress Bay faces Western — which took care of Stoneman Douglas in straight sets — for the third consecutive year in the regional semifinals Saturday. The Lightning will host Saturday and has eliminated Western in each of the past two seasons.
MARK SINGER
▪ 4-8A — West Broward d. Miami Beach 25-18, 25-17, 25-12: Even with captain and top outside hitter Samanta Arenas out because of an academic commitment, the host Bobcats (16-6) still cruised into the semifinals. West Broward, which has lost in the regional finals the past two years, will host Dr. Krop (which beat Flanagan in five sets) Saturday at 2 p.m.
“It’s nice to know I’ve got a bench that can go out there and get through a match like this,” West Broward coach Corey Sarubbi said. “We still need to clean some things up before Saturday.”
Sarubbi referred specifically to two other seniors, Alexi Deane and Brooke Webster. Deane finished with six kills and two assists while Webster totaled five kills, five digs, two assists and seven service points. Miami Beach ends its season 13-7 and was led by Nicole Goetz (10 kills) and Amanda Garcia (eight points).
BILL DALEY
▪ 4-6A — Doral d. Norland 25-7, 25-11, 25-12: The Firebirds (17-4) will play host to either Sunset or Carol City in the semifinals after beating Norland. Tatiana Gutierrez had 14 points, Vanessa Rodriguez had 18 points and Marina Paula recorded 12 kills.
▪ 4-4A — Westminster Christian d. Monsignor Pace 25-8, 25-19, 25-12: The Warriors (22-6) had no problem moving on in Class 4A as Nikkia Benitez had 14 kills with 11 points, Isabella Hernandez recorded 12 kills with 12 points, Ingrid Savola had 18 assists and 19 points while Priscilla Hernandez had 13 kills. Westminster will play host to Ransom Everglades on Saturday after the Raiders beat LaSalle in straight sets.
▪ 4-4A — Cardinal Gibbons d. Boca St. Andrew’s 25-18, 25-18, 25-20: The Chiefs (21-7) advanced and will play host to neighborhood rival Pine Crest in the semifinals on Saturday. Daniella Molinari led the way with 13 kills and 10 points, Bailey Pearlman had nine kills and Natalie Novak had six kills.
▪ 4-4A — Pine Crest d. American Heritage-Delray 25-7, 25-14, 25-21: Ariana Altieri had 10 kills and Sara Duque had 22 digs for the Panthers (22-8).\
FOOTBALL
▪ Hialeah 34, Hialeah Gardens 7: The host Thoroughbreds, headed to the postseason as the District 13-8A runners-up, ran for five touchdowns at Milander Park on Wednesday.
Bobby Clerisier and Lynn Bryant led the T-Breds (5-4, 4-1) with two touchdowns each; Clerisier rushed for 85 yards on nine carries while Bryant ran for 80 yards on 13 carries.
Hialeah Gardens (2-7, 0-5) entered the game eliminated from playoff contention.
In opening round of the Class 8A playoffs, Hialeah will visit the winner of Friday’s game between Columbus and Coral Gables.
DARREN COLLETTE
GIRLS’ SOCCER
▪ Mater Academy 2, Monsignor Pace 1: Julissa Benitez, Karla Vargas (MA) goal; Amanda Diaz (MA) assist. MA 2-1.
▪ Miami Springs 5, Dr. Krop 0: Alyssa Deno 2 goals, assist; Katherine Inhoof 2 assists; Sophia Gomez, Grace Blatch and Gabby Andollo goal each. MS 1-1.
▪ Taravella 10, Piper 2: Morgan Newman 6 goals, 2 assists; Brooke Boutchie 2 goals; Brooke Newman and Luciana Scoppella goal each.
▪ Carrollton 9, Marathon 1: Sarah Berenguer 3 goals; Isa Kang 2 goals; Michelle Diaz-Silveira, Sydney Sariol, Virginia Moscetti and Alexis Diaz-Silveira goal each.
THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
FOOTBALL
Westland Hialeah at Miami Springs, 4; Pace vs. Keys Gate (Harris), 4; S.Broward vs. Hollywood Hills (CCity), 7; Killian vs. Palmetto (Tropical), 7; American vs. NMB (Milander), 7; Booker T. vs. Edison (Traz), 7; HML vs. Norland (NMiami), 7; Ferguson vs. Varela (Southridge), 7; South Miami at Doral, 7; SFC semifinal: Calvary Christian at Pine Crest, 7; SFC semifinal: Springs Charter vs. Pope John Paul (CGlades), 7:30; FIFC semifinal: Miami Charter at Scheck Hillel, 7; Westminster Academy at Pompano, 7:30
CROSS-COUNTRY
Region 4-4A at Larry and Penny Thompson Park – Girls: 4:30; Boys: 5:15; Region 4-2A at Mills Pond Park – Girls: 3:45; Boys: 4:30; Region 4-1A at Mills Pond Park – Girls: 2; Boys: 2:45
SWIMMING AND DIVING
Region 4-2A at Florida Gulf Coast University: 9 a.m.; District 10-4A at South Broward: 2; District 11-4A at Dade North Aquatic Center: 9 a.m.
This story was originally published October 28, 2015 at 10:21 PM with the headline "Southwest volleyball tops Palmetto in four sets, will face nemesis Ferguson for fifth time in regional semifinals."