Saturday’s state semifinals for girls volleyball will include four teams from Palm Beach County.
Benjamin will face Miami-Palmer Trinity Saturday in a Class 4A state volleyball semifinal. (Photo by Allen Eyestone)
Boca Raton, Lake Worth Christian, Benjamin and Donna Klein Jewish Academy won their regional finals matchups, and will take the court this weekend for the opportunity to play for a state championship.
The Bobcats travel to Miami-Ferguson; the Defenders host Naples-Seacrest Country Day; the Bucs travel to Miami-Palmer Trinity; and the Eagles host Winter Park-Geneva.
The winners will play for the state championship Nov. 10, 11 or 12 at West Port High School in Ocala.
All games are Saturday at 2 p.m. unless noted.
Class 9A
Boca Raton (22-2) at Miami-Ferguson (25-2): The Bobcats needed five sets to defeat Spanish River in the regional semifinals last week, but took just three to beat Weston-Cypress Bay Tuesday in their regional championship match. Alabama commit Christine Jarman had 13 kills and eight digs for Boca Raton, while Tatianna Rivas added 36 digs against the Lightning, who were 18-1 heading into Tuesday’s match. Expect an equally accomplished opponent in the Falcons, who swept Pembroke Pines-West Broward Tuesday and have won 14 of their past 15 matches. Ferguson advanced to the state semifinals in 2013 and 2015, and lost both matches. The Falcons will be motivated to take the next step, and they have home court advantage.
Prediction: Ferguson 3-2
Class 4A
Benjamin (13-7) at Miami-Palmer Trinity (13-5), 4 p.m.: The Bucs qualified for their first state tournament berth in two decades last Saturday with a five-set win over Fort Lauderdale-Westminster Academy. The Falcons should be another tough opponent, particularly on the road. Palmer Trinity has won five of its past six matches, with four of those wins coming by sweep. But the Bucs also are playing well, winning both of their regional matches after claiming the district championship. Freshman Ellie Blain and junior Nicole May came up big for Benjamin against Westminster, with Blain contributing 23 kills, and May adding 56 assists. The Bucs and Falcons have faced one shared opponent this season – Miami Country Day – and both won by sweep.
Prediction: Benjamin 3-2
Class 3A
Naples-Seacrest Country Day (22-6) at Lake Worth Christian (25-5): The Defenders would move a step closer toward claiming their second straight state championship with a win over the Stingrays. But it won’t be easy. Seacrest Country Day has been a regular to the state tournament in recent years, winning a championship in 2013, and making the title game in 2014. Lake Worth Christian got in the way of a third straight state tournament berth last year, defeating the Stingrays in five sets in the regional finals. The Defenders have been on a roll lately, dropping just one set in five matches. But Seacrest Country Day has been equally as impressive on its way to the state semifinals, sweeping four straight matches before edging Fort Myers-Evangelical Christian in the regional finals. Expect another tight one here.
Prediction: Lake Worth Christian, 3-2
Class 2A
Winter Park-Geneva (17-6) at Donna Klein Jewish Academy (14-2), 8 p.m.: Both the Eagles and Knights needed five sets to win their regional finals matches, with Geneva outlasting Merritt Island Christian, and Donna Klein edging district rival Grandview Prep. The Eagles’ two losses this season came to a Class 3A school and a Class 5A school, and both went five sets. The Knights shook off a late-season slump in which they lost three in a row, winning six of their next seven. Geneva also has recent postseason experience, advancing to the Class 2A regional finals in each of the last two years, and the state semifinals in 2013.
Prediction: Geneva, 3-2
