High school volleyball: Barron Collier, FBA not content to be back in state semifinals

The last two high school volleyball teams left playing in Southwest Florida share a lot of similarities.

First off, they’re the same teams that made it the farthest in last year’s FHSAA playoffs. Both Barron Collier and First Baptist Academy lost in their respective classifications’ state championship matches in 2017.

On Saturday, the Cougars and Lions take aim at a return trip to state -- and if they do, they will play right up in the road at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers. Barron Collier plays at Stuart-South Fork in the Class 7A semifinals, while First Baptist is at Doral-Divine Savior Academy in the Class 3A final four.

Though both teams made it this far last season, they weren’t sure what this year would hold. The Cougars and Lions each graduated half of their roster from last year. They had talent, but it took a while for both teams to find their groove.

“We knew this was possible,” Barron Collier junior libero Olivia D’Agostino said. “We just had to come together and play as a team, and we have. We’ve been working toward this point since Day 1.”

More:Barron Collier beats Port Charlotte for 7A regional title

More:FBA, Barron Collier keep winning in volleyball regionals

More:First Baptist wins in regional semifinals

Barron Collier (21-9) has proven its resiliency all season long. Adjusting to new coach Yamil Del Valle, the Cougars started the year 7-9 before starting its current 14-match winning streak.

In the past two playoff matches, Barron Collier lost in the first set before storming back to win both and a third straight regional championship.

Though the Cougars are young, with three seniors, they have several players back who played during last year’s postseason run to the state championship game.

“It pushes us to get back to states,” sophomore Skylar English said of the team’s experience. “All the returning players keep saying we don’t want to end this year without a ring on our finger. We keep pushing ourselves. We’re working hard to get back to states.”

Barron Collier returns to South Fork (19-9), the location of the program’s first state semifinal match two years ago. After winning their first regional championship in 2016, the Cougars lost at South Fork in the final four. South Fork won the state title that year.

Last season Barron Collier beat Jensen Beach 3-1 at home in the state semifinals before losing 3-1 to Fort Walton Beach in the 7A championship.

As with the Cougars returning English, First Baptist brought back one of its top offensive weapons this season in Breanah Rives. Just an eighth-grader, Rives leads the team with 281 kills.

The Lions (22-7) also added junior Jordan Benoit, who has 260 kills. Early in the season, FBA coach Marci Walker said the team relied too much on its talented attackers. Now that the team has grown, it’s more versatile and more dangerous.

“We’re at the point where we’re using everybody on the court,” Walker said. “It’s been a big benefit not putting it all on our Nos. 1 and 2 hitters.”

First Baptist has just four players back who played in last year’s state finals. The Lions only had eight players a year ago and graduated four. So it took a while for the team to gel, going 10-5 early in the year before the 12-2 run it’s currently on.

Part of the reason it took some time to get going was a tough early-season schedule. First Baptist, with about 200 students, hasn’t shied away from larger schools. The Lions have faced Barron Collier, Fort Myers, Naples, Bishop Verot, Sarasota-Cardinal Mooney and Tampa-Berkeley Prep this year.

Walker built a strong schedule so when the Lions face a team with a good record in the playoffs, like Saturday’s opponent Divine Savior (23-1), they would be ready.

“That was the goal this year – to play good teams that would benefit us in the long run,” Walker said. “(The players) getting over the intimidation factor helps in the postseason. They’re not afraid when they see a big hitter we don’t always see at the smaller schools.”

The winners of the 3A and 7A semifinals play Saturday, Nov. 17, in the FHSAA Volleyball Finals.

Regional pairings

Quarterfinals

Oct. 24

Class 8A

Lakewood Ranch 3, Riverdale 2

Venice 3, Gulf Coast 0

Class 7A

Barron Collier 3, Estero 0

Class 6A

Tarpon Springs 3, Mariner 0

Lely 3, Dunedin 0

Class 5A

Cardinal Mooney 3, Community School 0

Bishop Verot 3, Tampa-Holy Names 1

Oct. 25

Class 7A

Fort Myers 3, Palmetto Ridge 0

Semifinals

Oct. 30

Class 7A

Barron Collier 3, Fort Myers 2

Class 6A

Tarpon Springs 3, Lely 0

Class 5A

Cardinal Mooney 3, Bishop Verot 0

Oct. 23

Class 3A

First Baptist 3, Sarasota Christian 0

Sarasota-Out-of-Door 3, Canterbury 0

Finals

Oct. 30

Class 3A

First Baptist 3, Sarasota-Out-of-Door 0

Tuesday, Nov. 6

Class 7A

Barron Collier 3, Port Charlotte 0

State semifinals

Saturday, Nov. 10

Class 7A

Barron Collier at Stuart-South Fork, 2 p.m.

Class 3A

First Baptist vs. Doral-Divine Savior Academy, 2 p.m.