Middleburg defeats Merritt Island in Class 5A state semifinals
WINTER HAVEN — After dropping the first set of the match, Middleburg advanced to the Class 5A state championship game with a 3-1 win over Merritt Island.
The first set was a close. Late in the set, Merritt Island took control and built a 20-16 lead on an ace by Camryn Childers. The Mustangs would go on to win the set, 25-20.
Middleburg bounced back in the second set and won it 25-17 to put the game at one set apiece.
"First set we kind of didn't play our game necessarily and they finally settled in a little bit," Middleburg head coach Meredith Forkum said. "Our libero told them 'you guys are playing tight, let's relax and play our game,' and they started smiling and having some fun."
After the second set, Middleburg won the third set, 25-16, and fourth set to win the game, 25-20 on a kill by Connor Rahn.
Rahn led the Broncos with 15 kills and 23 digs. Brooke Forkum added 14 kills and 26 digs to help wheel Middleburg to this win.
"They're just really consistent and you just know you can count on them," Meredith said of Brooke and Rahn. "If the game is on the line, you give them the ball and they will find a way to make a play."
Also for Middleburg, Morgan Padgett finished with 32 digs and 18 assists and Camden Rahn had seven kills and 25 digs.
In a game that had several long rallies, the Mustangs fought hard throughout each set and kept the score close but were unable to extend their season. Head coach Angie Patrick said she is proud of the season her team put together and that some mistakes in this game just got the best of the team.
"It's been a great season, but when we lose games it has a lot to do with our errors and our efficiency and that's kind of what it came down to," Patrick said. "When you have a lot of errors on a big stage like this it feels like they're double the points loss so unfortunately we couldn't get passed that and in the second and third set it just continued to carry through."
Maddie Johnson ended the game with 10 kills and 15 digs, Bella Schwantz has 30 digs and eight kills, Camryn Childers had 11 kills and 12 digs for Merritt Island.
Though their season may be done, the Mustangs still have a lot to show from this season. To go along winning the region 2-5A championship, Merritt Island finishes the season with a record of 23-7 and having won its 19th straight district title.
"They've contributed a lot the last four years, and they had a lot of leadership, a lot of desire, a lot of passion," Patrick said of her seniors. "So, you know as always we want our seniors to leave that kind of legacy and they held up to that."
Middleburg will face Barron Collier in the Class 5A state championship game. Coach Forkum said she was proud of how her team fought to get this win.
"It's a little bit surreal, I knew these guys were special last year when I was the assistant coach under Coach Pruitt," first year head coach Forkum said. "We had some challenges, but we battled through and this is awesome."
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Middleburg defeats Merritt Island in Class 5A state semifinals
