- October 23, 2024
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Led by West Orange High, the Class 7A, District 5 champions, and Olympia High, 7A, District 6 winners, West Orange and Southwest Orange are represented in three of the seven FHSAA classifications going into the 2024 girls volleyball playoffs.
Six of the area’s 12 teams made the cut, and to get the area’s high school girls volleyball fans prepared for the playoffs, here’s an overview of all six of those teams.
Editor’s note: Schools are listed by classification, from largest to smallest, then highest seed.
No. 3 Olympia High (17-5)
For the third consecutive season, the Olympia Titans claimed the district championship — beating Lake Nona High, 3-1 — and have gone into the regional playoffs as the highest-seeded team in 7A.
With a leave-everything-on-the-court mentality, Olympia will look to continue its successful run under coach Semei Tello Ponce.
On the court, expect libero Eliza Perdue to play a big role for the Titans. She leads the team in digs with 354 through 64 sets. Perdue usually receives most opposing serves to set up the returning attack by giving setter Madison Wehr a clean dig, so she can dish out assists to the plethora of Olympia hitters.
Olympia plays No. 6 Central High (14-10) Wednesday, Oct. 23, in the first round of the playoffs.
No. 5 West Orange High (14-4)
Led by captain Gwenyth Berry, West Orange went on the road to Windermere High and topped the Wolverines in straight sets to take home the Class 7A, District 5 championship.
As regionals begin, expect more of the same from the Warriors’ leading outside hitter. The senior, committed to The Citadel, has been on a tear in her first season for West Orange; leading the team with 129 kills over 46 sets played to go along with 30 aces, 108 digs and 190 serves received.
Another key part of the Warriors’ run to the regional playoffs has been middle hitter Katelyn Landis. The 6-foot-1 junior has smacked down 117 kills in attack and racked up 31 total blocks on defense.
Despite being the lower seed, as a district champion, West Orange hosts No. 4 Jupiter High (18-5) Wednesday, Oct. 23.
No. 8 Windermere High (10-11)
In its first season under new coach Nicole Vinas, the Wolverines sneaked into the regional playoffs as an at-large team thanks to its performance this season against a tough schedule.
On the court, Windermere will be led by senior outside hitter Jordyn Cox, an Eastern Florida State commit, and its senior setting duo of Mia Dilorenzo and Hannah Vinas.
The Wolverines will travel to play Region 2’s top seed, No. 1 Osceola (21-4), Wednesday, Oct. 23. This will be the second time Windermere plays the Kowboys, having lost in September, 3-0.
No. 8 Windermere Prep (7-15)
Similar to its neighboring school, Windermere High, Windermere Prep managed to sneak into the regional playoffs as an at-large team with a losing record thanks largely to its difficult schedule. Both teams also lost in their district’s championship game in straight sets; the Lakers fell to McKeel Academy in the Class 3A, District 8 title match.
Regardless of its path to the postseason, Windermere Prep has the chance to force some upsets in its pursuit of state title glory.
To accomplish any of those goals, the Lakers will need to lean on their star outside hitter, Isabella Johnson. When the junior’s tremendous length and superior athleticism are on full display, not many players in the area can match her hitting ability. Simply put, she’s capable of taking over a game.
Windermere Prep travels to No. 1 Lake Highland Prep (18-5) Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.
No. 3 Foundation Academy (17-4)
The Foundation Academy Lions will look to bounce back in the regional playoffs after a tough 3-0 loss in the 2A, District 4 championship game to Region 1’s top-seed Trinity Catholic (17-3).
To do so, the Lions’ resurgence will start with senior outside hitter Madison Krause, the program’s record-holder for most kills in a season (287), who leads the Foundation attack, along with middle hitter Haley Higgins, who has 237 kills of her own and leads the team in total blocks with 35.
Setter Geiliany Del Valle — who has racked up 707 assists in 68 sets this season— will also be vital in Foundation’s playoff hopes, as she needs to be finding the Lions hitters with one assist after another.
Foundation plays at No. 6 Trinity Christian Academy (12-14) Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.
No. 7 The First Academy (4-14)
The First Academy’s first season under new coach Amanda Serpa hasn’t been ideal, finishing the regular season and district tournament losing nine consecutive games and reaching the regional playoffs with a record that’s 10 games under .500.
Still, because TFA’s schedule was tough, the Royals found their way into the playoffs as the seventh seed. To pull off a few upsets, though, TFA will need its top players to step up when the lights are brightest.
That starts with Kennedy Connell, TFA’s leader in kills and serves returned. The middle is patrolled by junior Olivia Salmon, the team’s leader in total blocks with 36. Sophomore Selah Kohler is another key to the Royals’ defense as the team leader in digs with 219.
But without someone to connect these players, none of this matters. That’s where TFA’s setter duo of Caroline Casalese and Paeton Wheeler will need to serve as the missing links — combining for 396 assists over the season.
TFA plays at No. 2 Orangewood Christian (21-4) Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.
