WINTER HAVEN — Underdog Lake Highland Prep put itself in position to win all three games against powerhouse Calvary Christian of Clearwater in Wednesday’s FHSAA Class 3A girls volleyball state championship match. But the No. 1 ranked Warriors repelled every Highlanders comeback attempt to win the title by scores of 25-22, 25-23, 25-22.
The Highlanders (24-7) were bidding for a repeat state title but the Warriors (31-1) had too many weapons for a LHP team that rebuilt this year after losing four outside hitters and its primary 2024 servers and serve receivers.
“They’ve really worked hard to get to this point,” Highlanders coach Katie Gallagher said before the match. Afterward, he said “I’m really proud of the girls. They never quit. Calvary is ranked No. 1 in the state for a reason.”
What the Highlanders did accomplish was once again maintaining its stellar streak of success in the sport. LHP has made 27 consecutive regional appearances, dating to 1994. In that span the program has won seven state titles, tied with Bishop Moore as an Orlando area record. Lake Highland was a state champ five years in row (2004-08) under current school athletic director Charmaine Schreiber and won two more with Gallagher in charge (2019 and 2024).
Gallagher was Lake Highland’s setter for three title teams (2004-06) and went on to set a University of Miami record with more than 5,000 assists in four seasons.
Lake Highland’s following included a big crowd of students who chose to miss classes to cheer their team on.
Lake Highland Prep students showed up in force for the FHSAA state title match. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
The Highlanders had a good chance in the first set Wednesday after rallying from six points down. They had an 11-4 run and took the lead at 19-18 and 20-19. But with the score tied at 22-22 Lake Highland failed to get into system for the scores it needed.
In the second game, the Highlanders jumped in front 9-6 with Paige Perkins asserting herself. But momentum swung back to Calvary, which worked itself into a 19-16 advantage. Lake Highland fought back to take a 23-22 lead with big kills by Perkins and Isa Umpierre and blocks by Jenny Glushakov and Adrienne Willis. But again, Calvary was able to answer in the clutch, scoring three consecutive points to close the set.
In game three the Highlanders rallied again to tie the score at 13-13. But the Warriors reeled off five consecutive points to take command at 18-13. Lake Highland refused to surrender and closed the gap to 23-21 with Umpierre delivering three consecutive kills. She saved match point with another kill to cut Calvary’s lead to 24-23 but the Warriors closed it out with a heavy block.
Lake Highland Prep sophomore Elle White (2) sets the ball in Wednesday’s Class 3A state title match. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
“We were close every time,” Gallagher said. “We knew we had to be perfect against a team that good.”
Calvary dealt 7A semifinalist Winter Park its only loss and is ahead of the Wildcats in some national rankings. The Warriors lost only to a Texas power, Cornerstone Christian of San Antonio in a best-of-three regular season tournament match.
Tournament play continues Thursday at Polk State College, including Oviedo (23-6) playing a 6A semifinal at 10 a.m., and Kissimmee Osceola (26-4) and Winter Park (29-1) playing separate 7A semifinals at 1 and 7 p.m., respectively.
Lake Highland Prep senior Isa Umpierre (10) and junior Alex Kennedy (9) console each after their state championship match loss. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
