Boca Raton volleyball takes care of Stoneman Douglas to win district championship
PARKLAND — In a heart-pounding showdown that had the entire gymnasium on edge, top seed Boca Raton High School won the District 13-7A championship at the home of second seed Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday night.
The Boca Bobcats (20-3) went into the matchup on a 10-game win streak and weren’t planning on ending it. They took command from the get-go, surging ahead with a 2-0 set lead over the Eagles. The Bobcats showcased precision, power, teamwork and an unwavering drive, leaving their opponents struggling to keep up.
The Eagles (14-5) refused to back down, and in the third set, they rallied with grit and determination, pulling off an impressive victory and taking over the momentum.
“There was always going to be pressure, there are teams coming after us,” Boca Raton head coach Andrew Sloan said. “We got a target on our back at this point in time, and that's OK. I think the girls tonight had a little bit of a moment, but I'm more than confident that we'll be fine.”
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As the fourth set unfolded, the gymnasium witnessed a fierce back-and-forth battle. The intensity on the court was matched only by the spirit in the stands, as fans from both sides urged their teams on.
In a thrilling conclusion, the Bobcats managed to edge past the Eagles, securing the fourth set, and the championship, with a scoreline of 25-20.
Leading the Bobcats to glory was junior outside/opposite hitter Mija Bendziute, a UCLA commit. The future Bruin showed fire and passion on the court and motivated her teammates to keep their heads to not let the game slip away.
“This feels amazing, we did the same thing my first year here (last year), and this is just one step closer to winning regionals and states,” said Bendziute. “It was a mental game for us today, it really showed whoever let off the gas controlled the game, so when we get in the huddle it’s like, ‘Who wants it more, who wants to win and take it to the next level?'”
Her teammate senior setter, Natalie Depaula, had committed to Florida Atlantic University. Both players are interested only in repeating last year's journey to the state finals.
“The two of them are just phenomenal volleyball players,” said Sloan. “Unfortunately, we can't win any volleyball game with just two, right? So I've invested in all 14 players."
Bendziute commented on how she felt committing to one of the top schools in the nation, UCLA, and how it is like a dream come true for her.
“When I committed it was surreal,” said Bendziute. “Whenever you're a little girl, you look up to that moment and right now I’m just playing my hardest (for Boca) and I'm just so excited to see what my future holds, and I can't wait to just finish off these two years and be ready for college.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boca Raton volleyball takes care of win district championship
