It wasn’t easy for the defending state champs, but Lake Highland Prep survived a close match for a 25-22, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23 win over Pine Crest of Fort Lauderdale in Monday morning’s Class 3A volleyball state semifinals at Polk State College in Winter Haven.
Neither team led by more than five points throughout the whole match, so the pressure was ratcheted up a few notches.
“It was a very back-and-forth match,” Highlanders’ coach Katie Gallagher said. “I think winning the state title last year means (the girls) have more confidence because they’ve been here before.
“But that also comes with pressure. They fought all the way through the match and stayed composed.”
Gallagher attributed some of the closeness of the match to serving.
“We had a little too many service errors, but (Pine Crest) also had some errors,” she said.
Lake Highland had 19 service errors, but made up for it at the net and on defense.
Junior Paige Perkins contributed on both ends with 14 kills and 18 digs, while senior Isa Umpierre had 12 kills, 10 digs and 2 aces.
Senior Juli Rosario-Mendez led the team with 22 digs. Joanna Cen added 17 digs, and sophomores Elle White (21 assists) and Adrienne Willis (18 assists) were an efficient setting duo.
The Highlanders advance to Wednesday’s 1 p.m. championship match to face the winner between top seed Calvary Christian (29-1) and Pensacola Catholic (21-9), who play an afternoon semi.
Orangewood Christian (26-4), the top seed in 2A, plays First Baptist (30-1) of Naples at 7 p.m. The winner moves on to a 10 a.m. Wednesday final
