Volleyball: Region semifinal breakdown (Classes 4A-2A)

Class 4A

2021 FHSAA Volleyball State Championships 4A FHSAA Girls Volleyball

The area matchups

Tarpon Springs (19-3) at Academy of the Holy Names (19-8), 7

This is a rematch from a district final that the Jaguars won in five sets (27-29, 25-17, 24-26, 25-15, 15-7). Academy of the Holy Names, ranked fourth in the class by MaxPreps, are getting healthy at the right time. Outside hitter Kensley Warbritton returned from injury and played a key role in the Jaguars sweep over DeSoto County in the region quarterfinals. Academy of the Holy Names is trying to reach the region final for the third straight season. To do that, the Jaguars have to get past the Spongers, who have won 18 of their past 20 matches and are in the region semifinals for the first time since 2019.

Stat leaders

CategoryTarpon SpringsAcademy of the Holy Names
KillsErika Spankus, 279Michaela Clayton, 224
BlocksAngel Shell-Nabiau, 49Heidi Crouse, 45
AcesGabrielle Spankus, 80Lauren D’Onofrio, 38
DigsRyleigh Powers, 244Lauren D’Onofrio, 375
AssistsGabrielle Spankus, 326Caroline Arnold, 348

Weeki Wachee (19-4) at Lemon Bay (25-2), 7

The Hornets are in the region semifinals for the second straight season and just the fourth time in school history. Weeki Wachee is on an eight-match win streak. The only match that went five sets during that stretch was last week’s region quarterfinal victory over Port Charlotte. The Manta Rays, ranked ninth in the class by MaxPreps, have won five straight matches, the last four via sweeps.

Stat leaders

CategoryWeeki WacheeLemon Bay
KillsDanielle McGee, 186Gabriela Crespo, 209
BlocksDanielle McGee, 24Taylor Orris, 52
AcesGrace Colleran, 90Kendall Steinert, 66
DigsGrace Colleran, 104Brooke Andrews, 251
AssistsAllora Murray, 193Kendall Steinert, 721

Class 3A

2021 FHSAA Volleyball State Championships 3A FHSAA Girls Volleyball

The area matchups

Berkeley Prep (24-3) at Tampa Prep (23-6), 7

This is the area’s premier matchup in the region semifinals. Both teams are ranked among the top four in the class (the Buccaneers are No. 1 and the Terrapins are No. 4) and the top eight overall in the state by MaxPreps. They spilt their previous two meetings with Berkeley Prep sweeping the first one in the regular season and Tampa Prep getting payback with a four-set victory in the district final. The Buccaneers are trying to reach the region final for the first time since 2017 while the Terrapins are looking for their first region final appearance since 2013.

Stat leaders

CategoryBerkeley PrepTampa Prep
KillsAva Swain, 302Rylee Johnson, 317
BlocksBre McDonough, 46Alexa Peguero, 56
AcesOlivia Rabinowitz, 48Olivia Hart, 58
DigsBailey Higgins, 213Autumn Martinez-Robinson, 430
AssistsOlivia Rabinowitz, 686Maya Van Heyst, 587

Bishop McLaughlin (19-8) at Calvary Christian (24-4), 7

Both teams are ranked among the top eight in their class (the Hurricanes are No. 8 and the Warriors are No. 6). Calvary Christian won the only meeting between the two in the regular season. That four-set victory earlier this month was a huge confidence-booster for Calvary Christian, which enters with an eight eight-match win streak. Bishop McLaughlin, a defending state semifinalist, has won three of its last four matches, including a sweep on the road over Sarasota Cardinal Mooney in last week’s region quarterfinals.

Stat leaders

CategoryBishop McLaughlinCalvary Christian
KillsMaddie Snider, 335Noelle Walsh, 269
BlocksLorelei Church, 59Morgen Talley, 52
AcesCahley Wood, 31Taylor Parks, 35
DigsLola Buck Taylor, 408Ava Bonin, 344
AssistsNaomi Chinchar, 681Taylor Parks, 874

Class 2A

2021 FHSAA Volleyball State Championships 2A FHSAA Girls Volleyball

The area matchups

Keswick Christian (26-3) at Bradenton Christian (18-4), 7

The Crusaders, under second-year coach Dan Zomermaand, are trying to make the region final for the second time in the past three seasons. They are ranked fifth in the class by MaxPreps and have won 11 straight matches, 10 coming via sweeps. This will be their toughest match during that stretch. The Panthers, who are ranked fourth in the class, have won four straight, all via sweeps. They are trying to reach the region final for the first time since 2010.

Stat leaders

CategoryKeswick ChristianBradenton Christian
KillsSydney Jackwin, 338Emma Laade, 358
BlocksSydney Melcher, 57Calia Beukema, 44
AcesSydney Jackwin, 76Ella Pardue, 44
DigsSydney Jackwin, 247Emma Laade, 253
AssistsHannah Jantomaso, 435Ella Pardue, 552