Merritt Island sweeps its way to the state volleyball semifinals

MERRITT ISLAND — Merritt Island hosted Academy of the Holy Names on Oct. 27 on the cusp of another trip to the state final four.

The Mustangs, as they’ve shown all postseason, took care of business with their sixth sweep in six matches to beat the Jaguars 25-14, 25-18, 25-13 for the Class 3A, Region 2 title.

“Very proud of them,” Merritt Island head coach Angie Patrick said. “They came out the last two games on a mission where we se out goal to be and they have not slowed down. I’m very proud of their performance tonight.”

It was a clinical showing by Merritt Island in a matchup pitting the top two seeds in Class 3A, Region 2. The team posted a .435 hit percentage with 49 kills on 92 swings.

“It feels good. Our team has come a long way and we’ve really just built a connection with all of us,” Walters said. “It’s been so special to play with a team like this because we just bond so well together and our connection is so strong. I think that’s why we made it this far.”

The junior trio of Gena Walters, Lydia Scott and Ema Michell paced an attack orchestrated by senior Amber Ives. She ended the match with 36 assists. Walters and Scott tied for a team-high 14 kills and Michell spiked 10 kills to go with 15 digs.

Walters set the tone in the first set with five kills on the Mustangs’ first nine points of the match. She ended the opening the set with seven kills and spiked the match-clinching kill.

“I wanted to win so bad that I was really just putting all my power into everything,” Walters said. “I knew this match meant a lot so that was kind of my mindset.”

It was another big performance from Walters, who is playing on varsity for the first time this season. The junior now has 132 kills this season as she recorded back-to-back state playoff matches with double-digit kills.

“Every single person is such a hard worker that it helps me as well because not one person looks like they’re not trying,” Walters said. “Everybody’s just putting in max effort.”

Patrick looked to Walters after junior Peyton Riordan suffered an injury in the beginning of the season.

“Our first tournament of the year, (Walters) didn’t play and I told her I know it’s hard to take a trip and not get any minutes, but I see what you’re doing. I see you working,” Patrick said. “Keep going, keep trying having good practices and then she got an opportunity when Peyton (Riordan) injured herself. She is one of our go-to now. She just never stopped working and she’s doing awesome.”

The Mustangs reached the final four for the fourth time in the last six years, but it’s the first time since 2011-12 they’ve advanced to the state semifinals in back-to-back years.

“It’s never an easy thing to get to a final four and for sure you don’t say because this team last year got there, we’re going to get there whether you have everybody back or not so it is a really special thing,” Patrick said. “I tell them that a lot. This team truly earned it and I’m so happy for them.”

Merritt Island heads to Polk State College in Winter Haven for the Class 3A state semifinals on Nov. 3. After finishing as the Class 4A state runner-up last year, the Mustangs will look to win their first state title since 2018.

“We know we got business to do. Enjoy this win, but we got to grind out the next few days. We’ve played the schedule all year to prepare us for this and I think it’s really paying off,” Patrick said. “We know the expectations, we know how close we were and we know we got to come in and be efficient, play with urgency and execute.”

Class 1A, Region 2

(1) St. Edward’s def. (2) Brevard HEAT 3-1 (25-17, 25-22, 21-25, 25-19)

For the second-straight season, Brevard HEAT falls to St. Edward’s in the regional final.

The Firehawks finish the year 23-6. They graduate seven seniors in Anna Livengood, Haley Cowling, Audrey Koubek, Aine Hanley, Brooke Arce, Janessa Figueroa and Poppy Dernier.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Merritt Island sweeps its way to the state volleyball semifinals