Volleyball State Finals
All matches at Polk State College’s Winter Haven Health Center. Admission is $17 via GoFan (a $3 parking fee is included in the price of admission).
Class 3A
Orlando Lake Highland Prep (23-7) vs. Carrollwood Day (29-2), 1 today
How they got here: Lake Highland Prep d. FAU High 3-0, d. Boca Raton Saint Andrew’s 3-0, d. West Palm Beach King’s Academy 3-1. Carrollwood Day d. Clearwater Central Catholic 3-0, d. Sarasota Cardinal Mooney 3-0, d. Berkeley Prep 3-2.
Stat leaders
| Category | Lake Highland Prep | Carrollwood Day |
| Kills | Kierstin Bevelle, 265 | Lydia Chinchar, 511 |
| Blocks | Natalie Harris, 46 | Sarah Dibbs-Frantz, 60 |
| Aces | Isa Umpierre, 44 | Naomi Chinchar, 37 |
| Digs | Jannelize Pierre, 418 | Mattea Casale, 318 |
| Assists | Kayden Green, 761 | Naomi Chinchar, 849 |
Outlook
The Patriots, ranked first in the class and third overall in the state by MaxPreps, are in the state semifinals for the third time in school history. They are trying to make their first championship match appearance since 2017 when they won their only state volleyball title.
Doug Chinchar, an assistant with Carrollwood Day who was promoted to head coach this offseason, has been in this position before. He coached at Bishop McLaughlin for 11 seasons and led the Hurricanes to state semifinal appearances three straight seasons (2018-20), including a state final appearance in ’18.
Chinchar’s daughters — Naomi, a senior, and Lydia, a freshman — are among the Patriots’ leaders. But Carrollwood Day is more than just a sister act. In the offseason, the Patriots were bolstered the addition of a few transfers, including Mattea Casale and Sarah Dibbs-Frantz, both of whom came from Bishop McLaughlin.
Casale (Purdue), Naomi Chinchar (Army) and Dibbs-Frantz (Virginia Commonwealth) have all made their college commitments.
That talent was on display all season. Carollwood Day enters on a 12-match win streak and emerged from perhaps the toughest region in the state to get to the semifinals. So far in the playoffs, the Patriots have beaten defending state champion Clearwater Central Catholic, defending region finalist Sarasota Cardinal Mooney and avenged one of their two losses this season with a win over Berkeley Prep.
The Highlanders are in the state semifinals for the sixth time in the past seven seasons. They have won nine straight matches, five via sweeps/
