St. Thomas Aquinas volleyball continues dominant run to another potential state title
The St. Thomas Aquinas volleyball team had all the pieces to repeat as state champions.
With 10 returning players including five seniors in their starting lineup, the Raiders have put together one of their most dominant seasons in their program’s illustrious history.
Now that season stands one victory away from ending with Aquinas’ eighth state championship following the Raiders’ 25-21, 25-17, 25-23 victory over Land O’ Lakes Sunlake in a Class 6A state semifinal on Friday morning at Polk State College in Winter Haven.
The Raiders (21-7) won their 11th consecutive match and have not dropped a set in six postseason games.
Aquinas will next take on Gulf Breeze in the 6A state final at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Friday’s match marked the first time the Raiders allowed 20 or more points in a set in this year’s playoffs.
Aquinas answered the challenge, however, by closing out each set with precise serving and defense.
The Raiders were in danger of dropping the third set to Sunlake after falling behind 20-16.
Aquinas again responded with a surge of great hitting and blocking to flip the momentum and close out the match.
Zori Brown, a Dartmouth University commit, finished with 14 kills and 7 digs to lead the Raiders. Sydney Guerrier, an American commit, totaled nine kills while Emmi Merhi had nine kills, eight digs and Tameary Wardlaw, a Morgan State commit, had 15 digs. Malia Brooks, an Emory commit, had 25 assists and five digs. Mikayla Porter also had 10 kills, 15 assists and seven digs.
This story was originally published November 8, 2024 at 3:19 PM.
