Broward volleyball preview: Aquinas looks to repeat, Pine Crest others seek breakthrough
For five years, no Broward County girls’ volleyball team had won a state championship.
That was until St. Thomas Aquinas - the last Broward team to win a title in 2018 - ended the drought with a dominant 27-3 season that culminated with their seventh state championship.
The Florida High School Athletic Association realigned its districts this season and created some interesting opportunities for Broward’s best squads.
One thing is certain, though.
The Raiders remain the favorite to repeat after their move to Class 6A and the return of most of their key players from last season.
Here’s a look at Aquinas and the rest of the contenders in Broward.
RAIDERS RELOAD
Aquinas lost three of its mainstays - 2023 Miami Herald Player of the Year Sydney Van Cott (Mercer University signee), Zoe Taylor, who is playing beach volleyball at LSU and Halley Tang (Western Carolina signee) to graduation.
But the Raiders’ roster was already deep enough to withstand the hit.
Aquinas will be led by 5-11 senior opposite/setter Mikayla Porter as well as 6-0 senior outside hitter Zori Brown, who were both integral to their title run last season.
Senior and 5-8 libero Tameary Wardlaw leads the team’s defense and junior Emmi Merki, a 6-0 outside hitter, who transferred in from West Boca Raton should fortify the Raiders’ front line along with 6-1 junior opposite/setter Sydney Guerrier. Senior 5-8 setter Malia Brooks steps into more of a leadership role as the primary setter.
STRIKING GOLD?
Pine Crest junior outside hitter Mia Gold established herself as one of the top players in the state last season.
Gold, a Boston College commit, had 398 kills and 260 digs last season to lead the Panthers to the Class 4A regional finals before losing to eventual state champion Miami Gulliver in four sets. Pine Crest moved down to Class 3A where it could once again collide with Gulliver on a potential path to the state tournament this November.
Senior setter Isabella Medeiros, junior middle hitter Isabella Sangha and senior libero Ali Natt should give the Panthers the depth they need to make another run.
TEAM OUTLOOKS
▪ Westminster Academy (24-3, 3A regional semifinalist) returns an experienced group led by five seniors which is hoping to build off last year’s breakout season. Junior 6-0 lefty setter Jillian McCarty, a Michigan State commit, leads the Lions along with junior outside hitter Jada Constanza and seniors Nicole Dos Santos and Lea Miller. The Lions are in a tough Class 2A bracket that includes Miami Westminster Christian.
▪ North Broward Prep (15-5, 4A regional quarterfinalist) is looking to build off a strong 2023 season which finished in a five-set loss to Calvary Christian. The Eagles won their first district title in a decade and brought back a solid core led by sophomore pin Jayda Palumbo and junior setter Destiny Wiggins. Junior pins Yasmin Tonon and Chelsea Ventura, along with sophomore pin Eden Harris and senior middle Madison Easton round out the group.
▪ Western (16-8, 7A regional quarterfinalist) will again be led by 5-10 senior outside hitter Mia Rees, a first team All-Broward selection last season. Senior setter Aubrey Wade, senior outside hitter Abigail Sizemore and junior outside hitter Paige Hill are also back for the Wildcats.
▪ Calvary Christian (15-9, 4A regional semifinalist) should be among the strongest squads in Class 3A with a returning core led by junior libero Vitoria Belfort and senior setter Addison Mittauer.
▪ Cardinal Gibbons (22-8, 4A regional semifinalist) graduated five seniors, but will try to remain among the best in Broward led by a young returning core. Juniors Beatriz Matos, a middle blocker, setter Ava Flores and libero Avery Paton will be at the forefront of that effort.
▪ Cypress Bay (20-8, 7A regional semifinalist) returns 5-10 senior outside hitter Hunter Crawford and junior outside hitter Sophia Guzman as it looks to build off last season.
▪ Cooper City (17-9, 7A regional quarterfinalist) should remain among the top large school teams in Broward. Even after losing two players who transferred, Cooper City returns seniors Giuliana Tesone, a 5-6 setter, Lauren Sereda, a 5-8 outside hitter.
▪ South Plantation (12-9, 6A regional quarterfinalist) will once again be led by senior captain Elena Lam as well as senior Cyan Long.
▪ Nova (10-14 last year) will be led by sophomore opposite, setter, defensive specialist Isabella Vicentelli, sophomore outside hitter Emiliana Rosas and senior Trinity Principe, who’ll play outside, setter and defensive specialist.
▪ Sagemont (18-10, 2A regional semifinalist) returns its entire lineup from last season led by senior libero Milani Billings. The Lions also added transfer Julianna Lugo from Cooper City and junior defensive specialist Zoe Ross is back from injury. Senior Mya Rutherford and sophomores Maria Bortoluzzi and Ailani Leon Guerrero round out the starting group.
▪ West Broward (11-8) is rebuilding with a group led by senior 6-0 middle hitter Tatianna Besu, 5-11 sophomore outside hitter Melody De Hoyos and junior 5-7 outside hitter Daniela Mayea.
KEY DATES
Oct. 14-18: Districts; Oct. 22-23: Regional quarterfinals; Oct. 26: Regional semifinals; Oct. 29-30: Regional finals; Nov. 4-9: State championships in Winter Haven
