Class 7A
2020 FHSAA Volleyball State Championships 7A FHSAA Girls Volleyball
Lake Nona (19-3) at Plant (21-8), 2 p.m.
How they got here: Lake Nona d. Olympia 3-0, d. Windermere 3-0, d. Kissimmee Osceola 3-0; Plant d. PHU 3-0, d. Steinbrenner 3-1, d. Vero Beach 3-1.
Top players: Lake Nona: OH Isabella Rujano, Jr. (193 kills); L Yulianna Amador, Sr. (241 receptions, 180 digs, 21 aces); S Nyah Molina, Sr. (293 assists); MB Gabriella Karman, Sr. (21 blocks); Plant: OH Erin Morrissey, Sr. (362 receptions, 281 kills); L Sophia Kotsovolos, Jr. (345 digs, 45 aces); S Sophie Fleeger, Sr. (298 assists); MH Reese Friar, Jr. (53 blocks).
Outlook: This is one of the best semifinal matches in any classification. Lake Nona, which is ranked second in 7A and eighth overall in the state by MaxPreps, is playing in the state semifinals for the first time. The Lions are on a 14-match win streak and have swept their last four. Plant, ranked third in 7A and 14th overall in the state, is playing in the state semifinals for the fifth time in the past six years. The Panthers are trying to reach the final for the first time since 2018.
Class 6A
2020 FHSAA Volleyball State Championships 6A FHSAA Girls Volleyball
Tallahassee Leon (10-0) at St. Petersburg (16-3), 2 p.m.
How they got here: Leon d. Fleming Island 3-2, d. Cypress Creek 3-2, d. Niceville 3-0; St. Petersburg d. Sunlake 3-0, d. East Lake 3-2, d. Ocala Forest 3-1.
Top players: Leon: OH Cailin Demps, Jr. (167 kills); S Alexa Washington, Jr. (368 assists, 115 digs); MH Macy Maxwell, Sr. (153 receptions); S Naomi Somerset (19 aces); MB Sydni Hunter, So. (25 blocks); St. Petersburg: OH Kate Youmans, Sr. (167 kills); L Livvi Harting, Jr. (393 receptions, 346 digs); S Nicole Robison, Sr. (653 assists); MB Jenna Davs, Jr. (67 blocks); OH Jordan Bunce, So. (34 aces).
Outlook: Leon, the defending state champion, is playing in the state semifinals for the fifth straight season. The Panthers are ranked first in 6A, second overall in the state and 18th nationally by MaxPreps. They are undefeated, though two of their last three matches have gone to five sets. This is the second straight match St. Petersburg has faced an undefeated opponent. Last week, the Green Devils handed Ocala Forest its first and only loss in the region final. That put St. Petersburg (No. 6 in 6A) in the state semifinals for the first time.
Class 5A
2020 FHSAA Volleyball State Championships 5A FHSAA Girls Volleyball
Robinson (15-5) at Jensen Beach (20-1), 2 p.m.
How they got here: Robinson d. Hardee 3-0, d. Land O’ Lakes 3-0, d. Port Charlotte 3-1; Jensen Beach d. American Heritage 3-0, d. Archbishop McCarthy 3-2, d. Merritt Island 3-2.
Top players: Robinson: OH Mila Yarich, Sr. (197 receptions, 191 kills, 149 digs, 57 aces); S Jill Tanke, Sr. (221 assists); MH Katie Kemp, Sr. (68 blocks); Jensen Beach: OH Naiya Sawtelle, Sr. (317 kills, 233 digs); S Raegan Richardson, Fr. (639 assists, 53 aces); L Lauren Askeland, Sr. (394 receptions); MH Lindsay Walch, So. (47 blocks).
Outlook: Robinson, ranked 14th in 5A, is playing in the state semifinals for the first time since 2017. The Knights have plenty of momentum, winning 10 of their last 11 matches, including eight via sweeps. The lone loss during that stretch was to Plant last month. Jensen Beach, ranked fifth in 5A, also is playing in the state semifinals for the first time since 2017. The Falcons’ lone loss was to Fort Pierce Central back in September.
Class 4A
2020 FHSAA Volleyball State Championships 4A FHSAA Girls Volleyball
Jacksonville Bishop Kenny (19-8) at Academy of the Holy Names (18-8), 2 p.m.
How they got here: Bishop Kenny d. Baker County 3-0, d. Yulee 3-1, d. Alachua Santa Fe 3-2; Academy of the Holy Names d. DeSoto County 3-0, d. LeBelle 3-0, d. Weeki Wachee 3-0.
Top players: Bishop Kenny: OH Allison Cavanaugh, So. (262 kills, 52 blocks); S Alexis Chin, Sr. (775 assists, 39 aces); L Tina Nika, Jr. (453 digs, 384 receptions); Academy of the Holy Names: Oh Kinsley Warbritton, So. (389 receptions, 216 kills, 41 aces); S Morgan Garlick, Jr. (395 assists); L Olivia Mortellaro, Sr. (275 digs); OH Mia Zazzero, Sr. (43 blocks).
Outlook: Bishop Kenny is back in the state semifinals after missing the final four for the first time in eight seasons last year. The Crusaders are ranked second in 4A and have won five straight matches, including an impressive 3-2 state title contender Alachua Santa Fe in the region final. Academy of the Holy Names is making its second straight state semifinal appearance. The Jaguars, ranked third in 4A, have won each of their last six matches via sweeps.
Class 3A
2020 FHSAA Volleyball State Championships 3A FHSAA Girls Volleyball
Ocala Trinity Catholic (16-6) at Bishop McLaughlin (24-2), 2 p.m.
How they got here: Trinity Catholic d. Orangewood Christian 3-0, d. Trinity Prep 3-0, d. Pensacola Catholic 3-1; Bishop McLaughlin d. Northside Christian 3-0, d. Carrollwood Day 3-0, d. Sarasota Cardinal Mooney 3-1.
Top players: Trinity Catholic: OH Kiana Laborde, So., (364 receptions, 281 kills); S Isabella Sanchez, Sr. (421 assists, 31 aces); L McKenna Yates, Fr. (317 digs); MB Elayana Johnson, Fr. (58 blocks); Bishop McLaughlin: OH Audrey Koenig, Sr., (374 kills, 26 aces); L Adrianna Lopez, Sr. (301 digs, 258 receptions); S Naomi Chinchar, Fr. (698 assists); MB Ezzie Thompson, So. (51 blocks).
Outlook: Trinity Catholic, which won the state title in 2018, are in the state semifinals for the third straight season. The Celtics, ranked seventh in 3A, have won seven straight matches, six via sweeps. Bishop McLaughlin, ranked first in 3A and third overall in the state, is in the state semifinals for the third straight season. The Hurricanes got here by knocking off defending state champion Sarasota Cardinal Mooney in the region finals. Another win and Bishop McLaughlin will advance to the final for the second time in school history with the chance to win its first title.
