Ransom girls capture Smoothie King Invitational
Whenever Ransom Everglades senior middle blocker/setter Caroline Sklaver registers a kill, her bench sings Sweet Caroline. It happens so often, those who were in attendance at the Smoothie King Invitational that Ransom hosted over the weekend must have left with Neil Diamond’s 1969 hit stuck in their head.
Behind Sklaver, the tournament MVP, the Ransom girls won their third consecutive Smoothie King volleyball title, defeating Tampa Prep 25-18, 25-9 in the final on Saturday. Sklaver led the defending Class 4A champion Raiders (21-4) with eight kills and four blocks in the dominant final victory.
The win serves as a measuring stick for the team with postseason play on the horizon.
“It gives us confidence going into districts, and we know how well we can play, so we need to live up to this every game,” said Sklaver, who hopes to be accepted academically into Princeton to play volleyball for the Tigers.
The Raiders, despite winning it all last season and currently carrying momentum, understand the approach they need to take into districts as they embark on a title defense.
“It’s easier to get it, then it is to defend it,” said freshman Sydney Bent, who made the all-tournament team with seven kills and three blocks in the final. Sophie Bullard (six kills) and Sophia Carrera-Justiz (five kills, eight digs) also won all-tournament honors. Annie Elkin had 11 points, 14 assists and a pair of aces.
MORE GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Smoothie King Volleyball Tournament: Florida Christian School d. Gulliver Prep 16-25, 25-15, 15-9: Katerina Rey 12 kills, 6 digs. Alex Perez 5 kills. Jessica Barcelo 22 assists; Florida Christian d. Carrollton 25-16, 25-19: Katerina Rey 10 kills, 8 points. Brittany Beckelheimer 8 kills. Nicole Fontela 8 points, 5 digs. FC 13-10; Westminster Christian d. Tampa Berkley Prep 25-23, 25-15: Sammy Ceballos 10 kills, 8 digs, 6 service points. Courtney Clausell 8 kills, 3 blocks. Jill Woodard 4 kills; Carlin Labuzan 16 assists, 5 digs, 9 service points; Westminster Christian d. Coral Reef 27-25, 25-23: Courtney Clausell 8 kills, 3 digs, 2 blocks. Jess Moo Young 23 digs, 14 service points, 4 aces. Sammy Ceballos 9 kills, 8 digs, 8 service points, 3 aces. Kia Benitez 9 kills, 13 service points.
LATE FRIDAY
Coral Gables d. Krop 25-17, 25-13, 25-11: Erin McCain 12 kills, 6 aces. Britnee Ellison 6 kills, 2 blocks. Yara Faour 4 aces, 15 assists.
MONDAY’S SCHEDULE
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
District 11-8A at Douglas High: Deerfield Beach (4) vs. Taravella (5), 6.
District 12-8A at Western High: Cypress Bay (1) vs. South Plantation (4), 4; Western (2) vs. Cooper City (3), 6.
District 13-8A at West Broward High: Flanagan (2) vs. Everglades (3), 5; West Broward (1) vs. McArthur (4), 7.
District 16-5A at Pompano Beach High: American Heritage (4) vs. Coconut Creek (5), 5; Archbishop McCarthy (3) vs. Dillard (6), 7.
District 14-3A: Oxbridge Academy (5) at Highlands Christian (4), 7; Westminster Academy (6) at Lake Worth Christian (3), 7.
District 13-2A at Boca Christian: Zion Lutheran (4) vs. Somerset Prep (5), 5.
District 14-2A at Hollywood Christian: Posnack (4) vs. Northwest Christian (5), 5:30
BOYS’ GOLF
Region 8-3A at Weston Hills CC, 8:30 a.m.
Region 8-2A at Lago Mar CC, 7:45 a.m.
Region 7-1A at Bear Lakes CC, 9 a.m.
GIRLS’ GOLF
Region 7-1A at Delaire CC, 1
Region 8-2A at Lago Mar CC, 7:45 a.m.
This story was originally published October 18, 2014 at 10:17 PM with the headline "Ransom girls capture Smoothie King Invitational."