On Tuesday, Oct. 14, the Berean Christian School girls volleyball team (12-8) hosted Morningside Academy in a first-round tournament game in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Class 1A, District 13.
On paper, Berean was the strong favorite, since the Bulldogs were riding a three-game winning streak, had a higher ranking and were playing at home. However, playoff games are not played on paper.
Morningside started strong and stayed strong, as the Eagles won the first two sets, 25-18 and 25-17. In the third set, Morningside continued its strong play, and at one point, the Eagles held what appeared to be an insurmountable 22-15 lead. With Morningside serving, Berean won the next point to make the score 22-16.
It was then Berean’s turn to serve. Head coach Sam Skelton turned to sophomore libero Ja’el Quezada to help launch a desperate comeback. Quezada got hot and started serving very well, supported by a series of key sets by older sister Jordan Quezada, timely blocks by Hailey Georgic, and point-winning kills by Ellie Skelton, Briana Downs and Gabby Estrella. You could sense the momentum shift with every point for Berean.
Quezada served and won six points in a row to tie the score at 22-22, which generated a Morningside timeout. The timeout did nothing to slow down Quezada’s strong serving or Berean’s momentum. She served out the set, and Berean prevailed, 25-22.
In the fourth set, Berean stayed sharp and on point. The Bulldogs won easily, 25-11. In the fifth and final set, Berean dominated all aspects of the game, eventually winning, 15-7. It was a timely reverse sweep victory for the Bulldogs, who then advanced to the district tournament semifinal match against the Pine School from Hobe Sound on Thursday, Oct. 16. The result of that match was not available at press time.
With a victory against the Pine School, Berean would advance to the district tournament championship game on Friday, Oct. 17 against either Lake Worth Christian School or Atlantic Christian Academy.
As Quezada looked back on that string of eight points to close out the third set, she was truly playing it one point at a time.
“I was praying to God to give me the strength to serve well and not lose a point,” Quezada recalled.
Clearly, her prayers were answered.
In other volleyball news:
- On Tuesday, Oct. 14, Seminole Ridge High School (11-14) won its first-round Class 6A, District 8 game against Fort Pierce Westwood, 25-7, 25-8, 25-20. Seminole Ridge played Martin County High School on Wednesday, Oct. 15. With a victory, Seminole Ridge would then play in the tournament championship game on Thursday, Oct. 16.
- In the Class 3A, District 12 tournament quarterfinals, the King’s Academy opened play on Monday, Oct. 13 with a decisive 25-17, 25-20, 25-14 victory against Somerset Academy Canyons. Then, on Tuesday, Oct. 14, TKA defeated Lincoln Park Academy in three sets (25-11, 25-6, 25-11) in the tournament semifinals. That win propelled TKA (17-7) into the district tournament final on Thursday, Oct. 16 against Cardinal Newman High School. The results were not available at press time. The winner of that match earns an automatic bid into the Class 3A girls volleyball state tournament.
- In the quarterfinals of the Class 7A, District 13 tournament, Wellington High School opened play on Monday, Oct. 13 with a convincing 25-8, 25-3, 25-8 win against Lake Worth High School. Then, on Tuesday, Oct. 14, Wellington defeated Park Vista High School (25-21, 14-25, 25-17, 25-19) in the tournament semifinals, which propelled the Wolverines (11-8) into the tournament final against crosstown rival Palm Beach Central High School (12-10). Palm Beach Central earned a spot in the final after defeating John I. Leonard High School (25-13, 25-15, 25-15) on Tuesday, Oct. 14 in the tournament semifinals. The Wellington-Palm Beach Central match was played Thursday, Oct. 16 at Palm Beach Central. It was a rematch of a regular season meeting on Sept. 9, when Wellington prevailed in five sets. The results of the district final match were not available at press time. The winner earns an automatic bid into the Class 7A girls volleyball state tournament.
- Royal Palm Beach High School (11-14) played its first-round Class 6A, District 8 quarterfinal game against Forest Hill High School on Tuesday, Oct. 14, winning in three straight sets. It was a rematch of a regular season game, which Royal Palm Beach also won in three straight sets. The Wildcats played William T. Dwyer High School on Wednesday, Oct. 15 in the semifinals. With a victory, Royal Palm Beach would then play in the tournament championship game on Thursday, Oct. 16, against either Seminole Ridge or Martin County.
