McCarthy Among Four S. Florida Teams In Volleyball State Tourney

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Archbishop McCarthy boys volleyball team, a two-time state runner-up, will make its eighth trip to the state tournament since 2004.

Not since Cardinal Gibbons in 2005, has Broward County won a state title.

However, this just may be the year.

The Mavericks are among four South Florida (Miami-Dade & Broward) teams to advance into the FHSAA Boys Volleyball Championship Friday at Golden Gate High School in Naples.

The others are Killian, Columbus and Mourning.

The Mavericks (26-2) advanced to the quarterfinals with a straight set 25-22, 25-23, 25-17 victory over Pine Crest Tuesday night.

Nicky Grossman had 30 digs, 14 points and two aces. Michael Moreiras had 17 digs, 12 points and two aces. Ozzie Fernandez had 12 points, eight kills and two acces.

After coming off prom weekend, the close contest was a good tune-up for state.

"It's good we were tested," Archbishop McCarthy coach Karen Frank said. "It was a little jolt for us. It took us a while to get going. By the third game, we settled into the rhythm of playing. It took a while longer and that's a good thing. Pine Crest played very well. To have somebody challenge us going into this weekend was good."

Archbishop McCarthy will open up against Mourning (22-5), four-set winners over South Broward in its state play-in game.

Archbishop McCarthy has played and defeated Mourning twice during the regular season. On March 5, the Mavericks won 25-16, 25-23 and April 2, defeated Mourning, 2-1, dropping the first set, 25-23, and winning the next two 25-18, 15-8.

"We played them the first weekend, it was one of the first games we played in the Orlando tournament," Frank said. "I schedule tournaments on purpose knowing we would be able to play or see everyone in the state. There are teams I never expected to be out of the state tournament."

Archbishop McCarthy made it all the way to the state finals last year before losing to Bishop Moore, 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-15, 25-21). Bishop Moore has already been eliminated and will not return to defend its title.

"The main thing with the boys is one play at a time, one game at a time, one match at a time. We can't overlook anybody," Frank said. "We need to keep that focus of not overlooking anybody."

Frank said her team is different than past teams.

"They are settled and more composed, they don't get rattled too easily," she said. "Compared to our past teams they are different. They have a mental capacity going in knowing that anybody can be beaten on any given day.

"We have to do everything right," Frank said. "The team that makes the least amount of mistakes wins matches here on out. We haven't gone into one match all season thinking ahead. We have played a high level of ball all year. It's a unique team and fun to watch as a coach."

After the Pine Crest game, Frank got a chance to scout Mourning one last time against South Broward. She said Mourning and Archbishop McCarthy are evenly-matched.

"We have to do what we have been doing well and that's serving very aggressively," Frank said. "It's definitely making other teams be out of their system. It's been one of the driving forces why we are doing so well and we have multiple players that have aggressive serves."

With so many new and unexpected teams qualifying for the state tournament, Frank said this weekend's tournament is "an unusual states."

"There are a lot of teams here that hardly anybody talked about at the beginning of the season," Frank said.

The Mavericks have four seniors who have competed at the state tournament. Three of the team's four seniors have been starting for four seasons.

"It's exciting to be going back to state. There is a little bit of taste left of where they were last year and they are there again this year. It's there for the taking."

In other state play-in matches:

Killian def. Belen Jesuit, 25-23, 25-19, 25-8: The Cougars (24-3) are headed to the Final Four for only the third time in the program's history and the second time in the last three years. Seniors Jason Harris and Christopher Barut return with state experience. Against the Wolverines (18-8), Harris had 14 kills and six assists. Barut added eight kills and five digs. Jomar Mondesin had eight kills, Anthony Abadin had 20 assists and eight digs. Christopher Hallstrand had 10 service points, 10 digs and seven kills. The Cougars play Columbus (27-1) in Friday's quarterfinals at 7 p.m.

Columbus def. SLAM Academy, 25-19, 25-14, 25-14: The Explorers (27-1) qualified for their second consecutive state tournament appearance. Senior outside hitter Jorge Gonzalez had eight kills. Outside hitter Logan Plummer and middle blocker Alex Suarez each had six kills. SLAM finished the season 20-8.

Mourning def. South Broward, 25-18, 21-25, 25-15, 25-22: Will Zuluaga had 17 kills and five blocks. Riain Festge came up with 39 assists, four kills, two aces and one block. Ray Peterson had 13 kills and one ace.

Boca Raton def. Monarch, 25-23, 25-20, 25-16: In one of the biggest upsets, the Bobcats (21-3) eliminated one of the favorites in straight sets. Boca Raton lost to Monarch in last year's play-in game. It was Monarch's (23-3) first loss of the season not including tournaments. Monarch was leading in the first two sets but Boca Raton, coached by first-year coach Brian Reim, rallied. Sean Drexl led Monarch with 30 assists, three digs and three kills. Luiz Padredi had 42 hits and 14 kills. Brandon Merritts led the Bobcats with 17 kills. Matt Savoca had 30 assists.

In Friday's other two quarterfinal matches, Lake Mary plays Lake Nona in the first game of the quarterfinal round at 1 p.m. Suncoast plays Boca Raton at 5 p.m.