Seashore volleyball has solely been a FHSAA sanctioned sport for 3 years.
However in that quick time, one factor has been made clear: when district-tournament time arrives, Vero Seashore is cash within the financial institution.
The Indians captured their third consecutive District 25-1A title after sweeping previous Jupiter 3-0 on Thursday from Vero Seashore Excessive Faculty. They entered because the bracket’s No. 1 seed and didn’t drop a single set in three district event matches.
“It feels superior. I’m actually pleased with how the workforce has developed and maintained its play and competitors inside the previous few years,” Vero Seashore head coach Wes Hawkins mentioned.
Excessive Faculty Soccer: Utilizing Class of ’24 and ’25 gamers, here is the TCPalm’s NFL Mock Draft
SCOREBOARD: Treasure Coast highschool sports activities scores for April 22-27, 2024
The 2 groups met with the district title on the road final yr, with the Indians prevailing 3-2. In addition they battled throughout the common season, a 4-1 rating line in favor of the eventual district champions on April 2.
“Vero is a very powerful workforce, they’ve an unimaginable program,” Warriors head coach Lilly Fink mentioned. “They’ve had it going for lots of years, they’ve a variety of full-time seaside gamers. It’s a troublesome workforce.”
With the No. 2 and 4 pairings on the sand to open the day, Jupiter (11-3) captured the primary set of every match earlier than Vero Seashore (15-1) responded. The No. 2 Indians duo of senior Ella Minton and junior Ara Sanchez jumped out to 9-2 and 9-3 begins over the ultimate two units en path to closing out Elaina Avila and Kate Guarneri. Mere seconds after that match ended, the No. 4 workforce of seniors Marley Massey and Kaleigh Becton completed off their comeback in opposition to Sophia Chapman and Sophia Rodriguez.
On the prime of the lineup, Vero’s No. 1 pair of sophomore Cora Darling and senior Ava Lilliquist didn’t want three units to deal with their enterprise, as they swept the duo of Macy McAmis and Islie Lounsbury to seal the championship.
Vero’s prime unit
Lilliquist, who’s considered one of six seniors on her workforce, has been part of the Indians’ run because it began in 2022. She additionally a veteran of the game, having been coached by Hawkins since she was 10 years previous. At yr’s finish, she’ll take her skills to the opposite aspect of the state and compete collegiately at Florida Gulf Coast College.
Because the starting this season, Lilliquist has been paired with Darling, a 6-footer who’s lengthy wingspan makes her a deadly blocker on the internet. Moreover, that enables the 5-7 senior to play behind, cowl floor and search digs. Highlighted most just lately on Thursday, the unit has meshed of their first yr collectively.
“It’s so good to have somebody tall and on the internet as a result of I’m used to a distinct fashion of volleyball,” Lilliquist mentioned of Darling. “It simply feels so significantly better and it’s actually simpler. She simply has a lot enjoyable and she or he’s enjoyable to play with.”
Subsequent participant up
Whereas the highest of the lineup has been safe, Minton is taking part in along with her third totally different associate on the second spot. She’s solely been with Sanchez for 2 weeks, however the senior believes the gamers’ collective bond off the sand creates a clean connection, with Sanchez and others, on it.
“Our workforce, we’re all finest pals. So we are able to combine and match, it’s really easy,” Minton mentioned. “That’s how our coaches coach us. We’re good as people and we are able to go along with anybody.”
The power to vary and alter lineups additionally speaks to Vero Seashore’s energy this yr: depth. The workforce has suffered accidents to 2 of its top-10 gamers in junior Paige Eager (knee) and 6-4 freshman Ella Gravlee (hand). Nevertheless, with the remainder of the roster stepping up, the Indians haven’t misplaced a beat.
Hawkins credit Matt Heath, an assistant coach who additionally serves because the director of Vero Seashore Volleyball membership, for the depth and participant improvement.
“He coaches a variety of our ladies in membership, too,” Hawkins mentioned of Heath. “We’ve got a variety of youth within the space. And I believe between that, having a junior varsity program to assist construct our varsity and having some ladies which were doing it for a very long time and are dedicated to seaside and likewise not doing it indoor performs an element.”
“We would like that ring”
Coming into districts ranked sixth total within the state, Vero Seashore is in line to obtain the highest seed in Area 7-1A bracket. Regionals start subsequent week whereas the state championships are slated for Could 10-11 from the Florida State College Seashore Volleyball Courts in Tallahassee.
Hawkins has seen his workforce qualify for states every of the earlier two years. He says merely qualifying for states and “placing your self ready to achieve success” are the Indians’ end-goals. In the meantime, the gamers aspire to have some jewellery at yr’s finish.
“We would like that ring,” Minton laughed.
Lilliquist added: “It’d be our third time there, so we’re hoping to safe a hoop, for positive.”
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports activities reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He could be reached at (772) 985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or through electronic mail at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
