No. 17 Winter Haven beach volleyball advances to regional final

WINTER HAVEN ― It’s expected that the farther a team goes in the regional beach volleyball playoffs, the stiffer the competition will get.

That’s exactly what happened in the Class 3A regional semifinals on Friday at Winter Haven, as Winter Haven, the No. 1 seed in regionals and the No. 17 team in all of Florida, took on Riverview Sarasota as the No. 4 seed in regionals. The Rams took the momentum early before the Blue Devils recaptured its magical momentum that has been evident all year, ultimately winning 3-1 and advancing to the regional finals.

“(I’m) proud of the team for getting one step closer — 100%. This is two out of five. The third one is going to be big for a regional championship and to advance to a final four. But I’m so proud of them ― the fight that they showed today and the resolve playing against a better team and better competition where everything wasn’t going our way all the time. We had to battle some adversity, and the kids responded and answered that call. All the credit too. All the credit to the girls for seeing better competition and stepping up to the plate,” Winter Haven head volleyball coach Dylan Sechrest said.

Boasting some talented players, the No. 1 line of Sarasota won over Winter Haven’s, which comprises The Ledger’s Player of the Year Rylee Tanner and Kylie Catrett. But Tanner and Catrett put up a fight.

Still, the No. 2 line comprised of Sophia Whitaker and Kindyl Goff was challenged as well but eventually came up victorious 2-0.

For the No. 3 line, Emily Drier and Addison Traina seized control the entire time, winning 2-0.

Additionally, in an effort to play much better than last week’s performance, the No. 4 line of Hala Heath and Isabella Sumner fought tooth and nail down to the wire and would go on to go down 2-1.

“…I got to give them their flowers: They fought a lot better. They did lose the first set. Still came out a little slow there. But then the second set they came fighting back and took the second set from them. … So, a much better battle today (for)the 4 line, especially seeing some better competition as well. They played better today. (They) just got to continue to do a little bit better of a job of following the game plan and making in-game adjustments.”

And the No. 5 line, Camila DeJesus and Leah Robles, put on a dominate show from start to finish, also winning 2-0.

With an overall good showing, Sechrest said it will be all about honing skills, practicing solid serves, putting the opposing team in compromising situations and minimizing errors.

The regional final will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Winter Haven High School vs. Venice — the No. 22 team in Florida.