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Winter Park overcomes Kissimmee Osceola to…

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Winter Park overcomes Kissimmee Osceola to reach 7A girls volleyball final

Buddy Collings, Orlando Sentinel staff portrait in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, July 19, 2022. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
By | [email protected] | Orlando Sentinel
UPDATED:
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Winter Park High girls volleyball junior Amber McClain (3) spikes the ball as Osceola High sophomore Brooklyn Sippio (3) goes for a block during the FHSAA Class 7A state semifinal at Polk State College Arena in Winter Haven on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel)

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WINTER HAVEN — Winter Park girls volleyball junior Amelia Mancino said her team’s mission all year has been to get better every single game.

The area No. 1 Wildcats’ streak of success continued Friday in an action-packed Class 7A state semifinal victory against Kissimmee Osceola. Both teams brought intensity and energy, and Winter Park had its hands full in a 25-22, 22-25, 26-24, 25-22 victory at Polk State College.

“These kids know each other well,” Wildcats coach Stephanie Gibson said after the victory. “[Osceola] brought some new wrinkles that we didn’t see the first time we played [Sept. 25]. They’re a fantastic offensive team and we had to neutralize that. They were on fire, but we figured it out.”

Winter Park, Osceola, Bishop Moore, Lake Highland and Innovation in FHSAA volleyball state tourney

Winter Park (27-1), seeking its fifth state title under Gibson but first since 2013, faces one final big challenge in Saturday’s 7 p.m. state championship game in Winter Haven. Reigning state champ Tampa Plant (22-1) crushed Boca Raton 25-17, 25-18, 25-15 in the second semifinal.

Winter Park dealt the Panthers their only loss, 3-2, in an Oct. 5 match played at Hagerty High. The Wildcats have won 22 in a row since suffering their only loss to Kentucky No. 1 Notre Dame Academy in the Nike Tournament of Champions Southeast event.

Two senior setters, both surrounded by young talent, were on point in the back-and-forth Winter Park vs. Osceola match.

Tyler Peloso delivered 54 assists for the winners. Osceola’s Andrea Rodriguez had 53 assists and 8 digs.

Mancino had 21 kills and 11 digs for Winter Park. Amber McClain added 9 kills and 7 blocks and Isabella Umpierre (12 kills) and Sophia Stallworth (9) provided more firepower. Defensively, Jordyn Lehman had 16 digs.

Osceola volleyball grows into state title contender | FHSAA playoffs

Osceola, which finished 24-5, fired back with Cate Palmi (23 kills, 9 digs) and Jordan Southall (21 kills, 10 digs). Dari Bravo had 18 digs.

“I’m proud of my team,” Osceola coach Carrie Palmi said. “It could have gone either way. It was great volleyball.”

The score was tied 15 times in Game 1, 12 times in Game 2wo, and 15 times in Game 4.

Osceola led 19-17 in the opening set before Winter Park turned things around with two powerful kills by Mancino.

The Kowboys scored five of the final seven points, including two big blocks by Sophie Spivey, in Game 2 to level the match.

The third game was 23-23 until Peluso fed Mancino and Isabel Incinelli for decisive kills.

It was the same in Game 4, tied 22-22 before Winter Park closed the door with a roof block by McClain.

Nine of Winter Park’s top 10 players are underclassmen. Osceola returns six of its top seven.

“I expect to be here again next year,” coach Palmi added.

Varsity Weekly: Winter Park volleyball, TFA football and Hagerty XC all shining

Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at [email protected]. 

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