Volleyball state finals

All matches at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena  in Fort Myers.  Admission is $9 in advance, $12 on the day of the event via GoFan. Parking is $10.

Class 7A

Plant (25-5) vs. Windermere (27-3), 6 p.m. today

How they got here: Plant d. Newsome 3-0, d. Steinbrenner 3-1, d. Venice 3-0, d. Doral Academy 3-0. Windermere d. Jacksonville Mandarin 3-0, d. DeLand 3-0, d. Lake Brantley 3-0, d. Jupiter 3-0. 

Stat leaders

Category	Plant	Windemere
Kills	Lily Frierson, 267	Ana Bleeker, 224
Blocks	Mackenzie Nichols, 51	Keondreya Granberry, 35
Aces	Maggie Dostic, 58	Ana Bleeker, 29
Digs	Sophia Kotsovolos, 498	Reese Burry, 178
Assists	Jennifer Rayburn, 680	Isabel Mulita, 495

Outlook: Plant went through some changes this season. Vanja Todorovic, who led the program to the state semifinals each of the past three seasons, stepped down. Sarah Reiss (formerly Kirkwood), who starred at Plant before going on to play at Virginia, returned to her alma mater to take over the program. Reiss is used to winning state titles. She won three straight (2001-03) as a player with the Panthers and guided the Spence School (Manhattan, NY) to a state title in 2013. Her sister, Emily, who was part of two state championship teams at Plant, joined the Panthers’ staff as an assistant. The players also are used to winning titles, particularly at the club level. Lily Frierson, Reese Friar and Sophia Kotsovolos were all on the OTVA team that won an AAU national title this offseason. Now, Plant has taken the next step. The Panthers are in the championship match for the first time since 2018 and are trying to win their first title since 2010.  They were dominant in reaching this stage, dropping just one set in their four playoff matches. To win it all, Plant has to get past a tough opponent. Windermere is ranked third in the class and 14th overall in the state according to MaxPreps. The Wolverines, who had never made it past the region semifinals before this season, are playing for their first state title.