FORT LAUDERDALE — The St. Thomas Aquinas women volleyball crew is heading again to the state ultimate 4 because the host Raiders cruised previous West Boca Raton 25-10, 25-13, 25-13 in a Class 6A regional ultimate on Wednesday evening.
St. Thomas Aquinas (26-4) advances to the Class 6A state semifinal at Polk State Faculty in Winter Haven on Nov. 6. The Raiders, which have gained 15 straight matches and swept opponents in seven consecutive matches, will probably be looking for their third consecutive state championship. The Raiders women volleyball program has captured eight state titles in class historical past.
Senior center blocker Isabella Sangha recorded a team-high 14 kills, senior Sydney Guerrier had 10 kills and senior exterior hitter Emmi Merhi added seven kills and eight digs. Senior setter Hailey Trebbien registered 21 assists within the victory. Senior libero Adriana Medrano and sophomore exterior hitter Isabella Cabrera additionally stepped up for the Raiders.
Sangha, a Notre Dame commit, has made an impression in her first season with the Raiders. “It’s undoubtedly superior to assist lead my crew and to have this chance with the ladies,” Sangha mentioned. “It was our final dwelling recreation, so we needed to complete robust. I’m very completely happy to be right here, particularly having a tremendous coach like Coach Z (Lisa Zielinski). She has actually exceeded my expectations and the way she leads this system. It’s been an awesome expertise and a blessing.”
Merhi beforehand performed at West Boca throughout her first two seasons in highschool. She was excited for an additional alternative to play in opposition to her former faculty.
“It was thrilling and an enormous alternative for me,” Merhi mentioned. “I needed to beat them. It’s win or go dwelling now, so I must get it completed and I believe our crew did that. We have to proceed to indicate up. We’re excited for states.”
The Raiders delivered a dominant efficiency and jumped out to a 7-0 benefit within the first set. The Raiders took a 15-4 lead and had their greatest lead at 24-6 earlier than successful by 15.
The Raiders scored the primary three factors within the second set. The Raiders led 13-10 earlier than Sangha’s kill sparked a 6-0 run to increase the result in 9. They led 22-13 and closed the set on a 3-0 spurt.
The Bulls took their first lead of the match at 4-3 within the third set. The Raiders led 9-8 earlier than scoring three straight. After the Bulls recorded some extent, the Raiders pulled away with a 6-0 run to power the Bulls to name timeout. The Raiders led 22-13 and scored the ultimate three factors.
“I believed we blocked very properly tonight,” Zielinski mentioned. “I believed Sydney and Izzy blocked very properly. Emmi performed very properly. I simply thought everybody contributed. We have now a number of gamers that may contribute and that simply makes it more difficult for the opposite crew to cease and defend. I believe that’s one among our strengths. We now have a chance to go to states and put together for that match. It’s one match at a time and one recreation at a time. I really feel actually snug with our offense proper now. I believe our protection is fairly good too.”
St. Thomas Aquinas defeated West Boca within the playoffs for the third straight season. The Raiders cruised previous the Bulls in three units within the regional semifinal final season and held on for a five-set victory within the regional semifinal in 2023. The Raiders are 13-0 in opposition to the Bulls relationship again to 2007.
West Boca (11-13) had gained six consecutive matches previous to the regional ultimate.
“St. Thomas is a superb crew, tremendous bodily and aggressive,” West Boca coach Quan Oliver mentioned. “We have now seen plenty of adversity this season and I commend them for a way we’ve responded and saved transferring ahead. I’m actually grateful that we’ve made it this far. I want we may have completed a bit bit extra. I’m happy with the ladies for his or her battle this season.”
The Bulls had been led by senior exterior hitter Hailey Ferwerda, who led the crew in kills. Junior Hendrix Goodwin, junior Chloe Khoury, sophomore Sofia Maldonado, sophomore Karina DaSilva and senior Caitlin Dreyer had been among the many crew leaders as properly.
“Hailey is a senior and has been working exhausting since I arrived to this program final 12 months,” Oliver mentioned. “She goes to do some huge issues on the subsequent degree I consider. I want her and all of the seniors one of the best of luck. They gave all of it they acquired.”
The Raiders will play within the state semifinal in Winter Haven on Thursday in opposition to an opponent and at a time nonetheless to be decided as of Wednesday evening.
