Volleyball State Semifinals
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 7A
Doral Academy (23-7) vs. Plant (23-3), 7 today
How they got here: Doral Academy d. Coral Reef 3-0, d. Cypress Bay 3-1, d. Boca Raton 3-2. Plant d. Palm Harbor University 3-0, d. East Lake 3-0, d. Venice 3-1.
Stat leaders
| Category | Doral Academy | Plant |
| Kills | Ainhoa Molleja, 254 | Maggie Dostic, 336 |
| Blocks | Erin McMullen, 73 | Kaylee Peper, 80 |
| Aces | Ainhoa Molleja, 54 | Lara Matta, 33 |
| Digs | Angelin Vazquez, 431 | Bella Lee, 404 |
| Assists | Melissa Gonzalez, 753 | Sophie Dostic, 557 |
Outlook
The Panthers, ranked first in the class and overall in the state by MaxPreps, are in the state semifinals for the seventh time in the past nine seasons. They are trying to reach the championship match for the first time since 2021 when they won their last state title.
To get here, Plant had to get past Venice, the team that knocked the Panthers out in the region final a year ago. The Panthers got what they wanted, beating the Indians in four sets.
The program’s playoff run the past decade is even more impressive when you consider Plant has done it while going through four coaches during that time. McKensie Harold took over the Panthers this year after Sarah Reiss left to become the coach at Berkeley Prep.
Harold inherited a team that returned nearly everyone from last season, making the transition go more smoothly. The experience among the starters paid off. Plant has won 10 straight matches entering the tonight’s semifinal match.
This is the second time in the last three years the Panthers have faced the Firebirds in the semifinals. Plant swept the last semifinal meeting in 2021 en route to the title.
Doral Academy, ranked fifth in the class by MaxPreps, has won six straight matches.
