By: Ross Van De Griek
We have made it to the state championships in the 2019 FHSAA high school volleyball season. We will be previewing all seven state championship matches that are scheduled to take place on Friday & Saturday on the campus of Florida Southwestern State College in Fort Myers.
Class 1A- Sneads (20-10) vs Newberry (18-12), Friday @ 2:30pm
Sneads is making their seventh straight appearance in the state final & is also seeking their seventh straight state title, which would tie Olympic Heights (1996-2002) for the most consecutive state titles in FHSAA history.
Sneads junior outside hitter Kiara Garrett has received interest from multiple D-1 schools for volleyball. Sneads senior right-side hitter Michaela Edenfield is a Florida State commit for softball.
Newberry is back in the state championship match for the first time since 2016, where they were a runner-up to Sneads.
Newberry is coached by 6th year head coach Sherrod Moseley, who holds a career record of 111-52.
Prediction: Sneads wins in 4 sets
Class 2A- Seven Rivers Christian (24-3) vs Lake Worth Christian (26-4), Friday @ 12pm
Seven Rivers Christian is making their first volleyball state title game appearance in school history & this year they also won just their second district title in school history. Seven Rivers Christian is coached by second year head coach Steve Stack, who holds a career record of 44-11.
Lake Worth Christian is in familiar territory, as they are making their 13th state championship match appearance in school history, but are seeking their first state volleyball title since 2012.
Lake Worth Christian is coached by 13th year head coach Terri Kaiser, who previously coached at Santaluces High School (2005-2006) & Palm Beach Atlantic University
Prediction: Lake Worth Christian wins in 4 sets
Class 3A- Cardinal Mooney (21-10) vs Westminster Christian (27-4), Saturday @ 6:30pm
Cardinal Mooney is making their second consecutive trip to the state championship match, but are seeking their first state title. Cardinal Mooney is coached by fourth year head coach Chad Sutton who holds a career record of 63-36.
Cardinal Mooney is led by three D-1 commits that include Sophia Hritz (Davidson commit), Ashley Skye Ekes (Florida State commit) & Anne Klemeyer (Navy commit).
Westminster Christian is back in the state championship match for the first time since 2016. Westminster Christian is coached by 15th year head coach Julie Kurenuma, who holds a career record of 361-92.
Westminster Christian is ranked in the Top 50 nationally, according to MaxPreps.com & PrepVolleyball.com.
Prediction: Westminster Christian wins in 4 sets
Class 4A- Santa Fe (21-9) vs Lake Highland Prep (25-2), Saturday @ 11am
Santa Fe is back in the state championship for the second straight year, and their third overall. Although, the Raiders are still looking for their first state title in school history. Santa Fe is led by second year head coach Eric Marshall, who holds a career record of 29-14.
Santa Fe sophomore outside hitter Faith Marquis is receiving D-1 interest for volleyball.
Lake Highland Prep is seeking their fifth state volleyball title in school history & their first since 2008. The Highlanders are back in the state championship match for the first time since 2017, losing to Berkeley Prep in a five-set thriller.
Lake Highland Prep features a pair of Division one commits featuring Lauren Gips (Rice commit) & Cierra Jenkins (Brown commit)
Prediction: Lake Highland Prep wins in 5 sets
Class 5A- Vanguard (16-10) vs Ponte Vedra (24-6), Saturday @ 1:30pm
The Vanguard Knights are back in the state championship for the third time in the last four years & the sixth in the last eight years. Vanguard defeated South Fork in three sets last season for the state title & will be seeking their third state title in school history this season. Vanguard is coached by third year head coach Randy Ewers, who holds a career record of 48-18.
Vanguard is led by Florida State commit Ainsley Clifford, who leads the team with 55 serving aces & also has 342 digs this season.
The Ponte Vedra Sharks are back in the state championship match for the first time since 2017, where they defeated Bishop Moore in five sets. Ponte Vedra is led by 11th year head coach Robin Mignerey, who holds a career record of 239-74. Mignerey also has held coaching experience at Lake Worth Christian (1996) & Jacksonville University (2000-2002).
Ponte Vedra is led by senior libero Sophia Ervanian (Tulane commit) & senior outside hitter Logan Mignerey (FAU Beach Volleyball commit)
Prediction: Vanguard wins in 5 sets
Class 6A- St. Thomas Aquinas (24-7) vs Leon (28-3), Friday @ 5pm
The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders are in familiar territory, as they will be on the verge of their third state volleyball title in four years, as well as their sixth state volleyball state title in seven years. St. Thomas Aquinas is led by 32nd year head coach Lisa Zielinski, who holds a career record of 862-172.
St. Thomas Aquinas is led by junior setter Erin Engel (Maryland commit) & sophomore outside hitter Meredith Dixon (Georgetown verbal commit).
The Leon Lions are back in the state championship match for the first time since 2017 & are seeking their first state title since 2011. The Leon Lions are led by 10th year head coach Angie Strickland, who holds a career record of 211-72.
The Leon Lions are led by senior outside hitter Shania Cromartie (Mississippi State commit) & senior outside hitter A'Niyah Cobb (Alabama State commit).
Prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas wins in 5 sets
Class 7A- Palm Beach Gardens (21-6) vs Hagerty (25-6), Saturday @ 4pm
The Palm Beach Gardens are hoping that the third time is the charm, after finishing the state runner-up in each of the last two seasons. Palm Beach Gardens is coached by third year head coach Joy Van Dyke, who previously coached at Lake Worth Christian as an assistant (2004-2015) & Grandview Prep (2016).
Palm Beach Gardens is led by senior outside hitter Anabelle Standish (Stetson commit).
The Hagerty Huskies who are a nationally ranked team, according to multiple ranking systems. Hagerty will be seeking their first state volleyball title in school history & also seeking to be the first Central Florida school to win a state title since Bishop Moore in 2016. Hagerty is led by sixth year head coach Juanita Hitt, who holds a career record of 129-33.
Hagerty is led by senior outside hitter Jessica Buis (North Florida commit), senior middle blocker Audrey Douglas (Auburn commit) & senior setter Emily Lawrence (UCF commit).
Prediction: Palm Beach Gardens wins in 4 sets