Volleyball playoffs: Timber Creek earns rematch with No. 1 Winter Park
Timber Creek was the road team against Hagerty in Saturday afternoon’s Class 7A Region 1 girls volleyball semifinal. But when Wolves senior Dionna Mitchell looked around the gym and saw teachers, administrators, coaches and players from other TCHS sports teams she felt at home.
The fan support played a big role, Mitchell said, as Timber Creek shook off a loss in the opening game to win the next three sets and score a 21-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-17 against a Hagerty team rated No. 3 in the FHSAA 7A power rankings.
“All that support was so awesome,” Mitchell said. “It feels like a school win. A really big win for the community.”
Timber Creek (21-8), No. 7 in 7A, will travel again to make its first region final appearance since its 2009 state championship in a Wednesday night match against 7A No. 2 Winter Park (27-2).
Last week Timber Creek had to rally after losing the first two games to top Hagerty 3-2 in a district tournament semifinal that came down to a 16-14 fifth set win for the Wolves.
The Huskies (21-8) again gained the early momentum Saturday but Timber Creek turned the match around with Mitchell and her senior counterpart, Jayda Redd, smacking big kills and leading a stellar defensive performance.
“Their outside hitters ran the show,” Hagerty coach Juanita Hitt said. “We tried different things but just couldn’t contain them. They are a fantastic team.”
Mitchell had 26 kills on 51 attacks with just one error. She also had 18 defensive digs. Redd had 20 kills and 19 digs
Amanda Mcinis (14 digs, 30 assists) and Linda Marie Jordan (25 digs, 6 assists, 2 ace serves), two more of Timber Creek’s 11 seniors, also came through.
Coach Julianne Calcote said her team responded to her message as they huddled going into the second game.
“We’ve got more gas in the tank,” she said. “More heart. More energy. Be gritty. Do everything you can do to keep points going,” she said.
Hagerty’s junior setter, Brielle Mullen, had 36 assists and 12 digs. Mayte Camacho, a senior, had 24 digs.
Volleyball district finals: area No. 1 Winter Park tops Timber Creek
Wildcats streak intact
Winter Park, the area’s top-ranked team, swept Lake Brantley 25-14, 25-16, 25-23 for its 20th consecutive victory.
“They like to win, and they don’t get flustered,” longtime Winter Park coach Stephanie Gibson said of what makes her team special. “Brantley made a little bit of a run and our kids answered. I think situations like that is where they thrive.”
Lake Brantley (20-9) built a 13-7 lead in the third game but the Wildcats responded by closing out that final set on an 8-2 run.
Winter Park displayed its balanced attack. Sophomore outside hitter Amelia Mancino led the way with 13 kills. Senior outside hitter Fallon Stewart and freshman Isabel Incinneli had 11 kills each.
Junior setter Tyler Peluso facilitated the offense with 37 assists.
“Tyler Peluso set a fantastic game,” Gibson said. “She read the matchups and then she was deceptive and she put the ball where she had to.”
Sam Bowron, a senior, and Amina N’diaye, a junior, each had 8 kills for Lake Brantley.
Wednesday’s Timber Creek at Winter Park match is a rematch a marathon district final won by the Wildcats 25-17, 28-30, 25-18, 23-25, 15-11.
“So intense,” Gibson said of that epic match. “There are such good players on both sides of the net.”
Osceola topples Titans
Jordin Southall had 25 kills and Kate Palmi added 21 for Kissimmee Osceola in a 3-1 victory vs. visiting Olympia in a 7A Region 2 semifinal.
The scores were 25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 25-17.
Osceola (23-6) will travel to play top seed Jupiter (24-3) on Wednesday.
“I really believe that there isn’t a team in 7A that would be considered huge favorites to win,” Osceola coach Carrie Palmi said. “We’ve played a tough schedule this year and it’s prepared us for this opportunity.”
She praised the effort of 6-foot-4 freshman Brooklyn Sippio, who had 10 kills and 5 blocks.
“Opponents tend to worry about our outside hitters and it sort of frees up the middle for us. Brooklyn’s very young but she just keeps getting better and better. She was fantastic tonight for us.”
Olympia (23-7) was led by freshmen Mia Diouf, who had 13 kills and 3 blocks.
“I was very proud of our effort tonight against a very good team,” Olympia coach Semei Tello said. “We started four sophomores and a freshman and I think our youth sort of caught up to us tonight. But give them credit. They are very good team but I know we’ll be back next year.”
By J. Daniel Pearson
Oviedo sweeps
Oviedo’s girls played their 6A region semifinal match at 10 a.m. in between a Homecoming football game on Friday night and the dance on Saturday.
Those distractions didn’t stop them from executing in winning fashion.
The Lions (21-8) combined superb hitting, passing, serving and defense in a 25-16, 25-15, 25-17 win against Horizon (17-5).
“It’s not easy coming in here on Saturday morning,” said Oviedo coach Jen Darty. “We had to get back the whole focus. I’m really proud of how they showed up.
“They took every opportunity in front of us, and talked a lot about being in the present moment, and continuing to give it your all.”
Oviedo will play at top seed Viera (25-4) on Wednesday. The Lions lost to Viera in the 2022 region final and finished as state runner-up.
Rylee Yarborough finished with 15 kills, 14 digs and 2 aces for Oviedo.
Sophomore Libero Avery Stephens (13 digs, 3 aces), senior setter Paige Wisneski (20 assists) and junior Olivia Klimis (11 assists, 2 aces) added to the sweep.
Senior outside hitter Camyrn Teasley had 13 kills for Horizon. Senior setter Juliana Neves delivered 25 assists and Gwen Berry had 17 digs.
Class 7A Region 1
Saturday semifinals
No. 1 Winter Park d. Lake Brantley, 3-0
No. 3 Timber Creek d. Hagerty, 3-1
Wednesday’s final
Timber Creek at Winter Park
Class 7A Region 2
Saturday semifinals
No. 1 Jupiter d. Fort Pierce Central, 3-2
No. 2 Osceola d. Olympia, 3-1
Wednesday’s final
Osceola at Jupiter
Class 6A Region 2
Saturday semifinals
No. 1 Viera d. Lake Minneola, 3-0
No. 2 Oviedo d. Horizon, 3-0
Wednesday’s final
Oviedo at Viera
Class 5A Region 2
Saturday’s semifinals
No. 1 Merritt Island d. Kissimmee Gateway, 3-0
No. 2 Wesley Chapel d. Pine Ridge, 3-1
Wednesday’s final
Wesley Chapel (21-5) at Merritt Island (22-6)
Class 4A Region 2
Friday semifinals
No. 1 Bishop Moore d. Astronaut, 3-0
No. 2 Alachua Santa Fe d. McKeel Academy, 3-0
Tuesday final
Santa Fe (21-8) at Bishop Moore (21-8)
Class 3A Region 2
Friday semifinals
No. 1 Lake Highland Prep d. St. Andrew’s, 3-0
No. 2 King’s Academy d. Benjamin, 3-0
Tuesday final
Friday semifinals
King’s (19-9) at LHP (22-7)
Class 2A Region 2
No. 1 Ocala St. John d. Merritt Island Christian, 3-0
No. 2 Orangewood Christian d. St. Edward’s, 3-0
Tuesday final
Orangewood (21-8) at St. John (19-5)
Varsity Content Editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
