Mater Academy seeking second consecutive title despite having to practice outdoors

About once a week, Taylor Pagan walks by the Mater Academy gym.

She takes a peek inside … and frowns.

Pagan, a 6-foot junior outside hitter, is part of one of the most talented girls’ volleyball rosters in the nation. Mater Academy, coached by Elsa Lopez, won the program’s first state title last year, and the Lions return four girls who have already committed to Division I universities, including Pagan.

Yet, the mighty Lions are forced to practice outdoors because their gym has been under repairs since March of 2020.

“I hope it’s closer [to completion],” Pagan said. “But, most of the time, it just looks the same.”

Lopez is hoping the gym is ready by Oct. 13, which is the volleyball program’s Senior Night.

“The wood is down,” Lopez said of the floors. “They just need to do the sanding, paint the lines and put up the bleachers.”

In the meantime, the team practices on a patch of turf grass by the side of the school, located in Hialeah Gardens. The girls put up the nets before practice, and they take them down when they are done.

Unlike playing indoors, the girls have to deal with the elements — sun in the eyes of a server, wind affecting shots and rain wrecking an entire practice, for example.

Plus, the players can’t be expected to dive to keep spikes alive in quite the same fashion as indoors.

“We limit the diving,” Lopez said. “Your body gets all burned up on the turf grass.”

Pagan wears tights to protect her legs. Otherwise, she makes no concessions to the conditions.

“We have no fear of the grass,” she said.

The Lions have no fear of opponents, either. Their deep roster includes three key seniors: 5-7 setter Elaisa Villar, a North Carolina State recruit; 6-0 outside hitter Angeles Alderete (East Carolina); and 6-1 middle blocker Amaya Roberson (Virginia Tech).

Pagan, a Colorado State recruit, leads Mater’s junior class, which also includes 5-8 outside hitter Gabriela Gonzalez Abreu and 6-0 middle blocker Aiko Helper.

All six are returning starters.

The only key newcomer is Oriane Drore, a 5-5 sophomore defensive specialist (libero).

Lopez, a former libero herself, was a skilled athlete in her playing days, leading Miami-Dade College to a junior college national title in 1994. From there, she played two season at FIU.

As a coach, Lopez led Keys Gate for four years before winning her first state title last season in her seventh year at Mater Academy. Her Lions defeated Tallahassee Leon in the Class 6A final, prevailing in four sets.

Mater’s toughest playoff matches were five-set wins over Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (regional semifinals) and Fort Myers (state semifinals). For the season, the Lions went 3-0 against Aquinas.

This year, the Lions will be tested at some top tournaments, including the Nike Tournament of Champions in Orlando.

“We have the title of ‘state champs’, and we’re expected to continue,” Pagan said. “I’ll do anything to end on a good note this year.”

THIS AND THAT

▪ Westminster Christian is back after losing in the state final in 2019 and again in 2020. Despite lacking great size, the Warriors should again contend for the Class 3A title. The team’s top player is 5-8 junior Alyah Cadavid.

▪ Divine Savior is powered by 12 seniors, including 5-11 Isabella Mendoza, who is a Yale recruit; and 5-7 Maite Alberdi, a transfer. Last year, Divine Savior lost to Westminster in the regional finals.

▪ Lourdes is powered by eight seniors and standout junior Sofia Santamaria, a 5-8 outside hitter earning recruiting interest from the Ivy League.

▪ Florida Christian returns all of its players, including a pair of second-team All-Dade standouts: 5-8 senior Mikaela King and 5-10 junior Natalie Hernandez.

▪ Other players to watch are: Palmetto junior Hailey Zambrana, who missed last season due to a back injury; Ransom Everglades’ 6-3 senior Juliana Williamson; Carrollton’s 6-foot sophomore Sofia Ibarra; St. Brendan’s 5-5 junior Annelise Alvarez; Coral Reef’s senior Angelina Dobal; Palmer Trinity freshman Giovanna Colina; Riviera Prep 5-8 sophomore Hailey Brenner; Miami Country Day’s 5-7 senior Sophia Rosenberg, Terra junior Nicole Casano; Krop’s Gabriella Ramirez; Reagan senior Jayleen Santiago; and Monsignor Pace’s sophomore duo of Cortnee Smith and Jessica Vargas.

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