Viera returns to Class 6A state championship game after defeating Chiles, 3-1
WINTER HAVEN — For the second year in a row, Viera claimed a spot in the Class 6A state championship game after defeating Chiles, 3-1.
The Hawks dropped the first set, 25-16, to Chiles after the teams found themselves trading points early in the set.
In the second set, Izzy Starck landed a kill to give the Hawks a 13-9 lead. Viera extended its lead after two aces by Amelia Talbott put the team ahead 19-12. Despite Chiles getting within three points of the Hawks, Viera kept the lead to win the second set, 25-21.
"I loved their fight, and it's been the same thing all year for us after losing the first game they settled in and they played really, really well," Viera head coach Sarah Wayne said after the game.
With the third set being the one that would put one team ahead, the game was tightly played. Chiles found itself ahead 16-13 at one point in the set until Viera rallied all the way back to win the set, 26-24.
Like the third set, Chiles led late in the fourth set of the game. The Hawks once again fought back and won the fourth set, 25-22. Wayne expressed happiness with how her players handled the closely played sets.
"The players that needed to step up did," Wayne said. "All game it was just one more ball, one more ball that we kept fighting for."
Starck finished the game with 20 kills and 21 digs, Sophia Jones had nine kills and 12 digs, Talbott added 35 digs, and Kasey Morgan had six kills for Viera.
For Chiles, Lindsay Smith ended the game with 19 kills and 11 digs and Kate Steward had 18 digs, six kills, and one ace.
Viera will face the winner of the St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Bloomingdale game on Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Viera returns to Class 6A state championship after defeating Chiles
