Boca Raton Christian ended Christ’s Church’s playoff run in the final four, bumping the Eagles from the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 1A volleyball semifinal. The Blazers took the match 25-20, 25-15, 25-22 at Polk State College in Winter Haven, a tough close to a season where Christ’s Church had their eyes on another championship.
Blazers Take Control After Early Eagles Lead
The Eagles (22-8) were fighting to add a second FHSAA title to their 2017 championship, but Boca Raton Christian (24-6) had other plans. Christ’s Church actually jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the opening set, showing some real fire to start. But that momentum didn’t last. The Blazers surged ahead and held control for the rest of the night, not letting up once they got their rhythm. The Eagles fought hard in the third set, even tying it up at 10-10, only for Boca Raton Christian to strike back immediately with a 5-1 run that really sealed their fate. You just hate to see a team battle back only to get hit with another punch like that.
Key Performers on Both Sides
On the winning side, Boca Raton Christian saw Hannah VanZweiten dominate with nine kills and 12 digs, a double-double performance that showed up big time when it counted. Caitlin Crino was dishing out assists all night, tallying 22 to set up her teammates for success. For Christ’s Church, Layden Kampfe and Delainey McLaughlin each recorded six kills, leading the attack for the Eagles. Leah Renton provided 18 assists, trying to get the offense going, and Harper Hadden dug out nine balls to keep plays alive. They battled, no doubt, but it just wasn’t enough to stop the Blazers’ momentum.
This is a tough one for Christ’s Church, falling two steps short of their championship goal. The good news? The team is set to return nearly its entire roster next season, with Alexandra Stowell being the lone senior departing. That’s a huge boost, meaning they’ll be back with experience and hunger for that title. We’ll be watching to see how they come back swinging next season!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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