While the Florida High School Athletic Association has completed its fall girls volleyball season after crowning its seven different classification champions, local volleyball enthusiasts will be keeping a close eye on a possible future champion, the Wolverines from Wellington High School.
This year’s girls freshman volleyball squad from WHS compiled an impressive 18-2 record, which included an undefeated 11-0 regular season record. The freshman team also played in a pair of in-season tournaments, winning one of them, the Palm Beach Classic.
According to WHS freshman coach Liza Asch, one of the key strengths of her team was its collective positive mental attitude.
“This was a really special team. We were a true family this year,” said Asch, who works as a physical education teacher at Equestrian Trails Elementary School in Wellington. “They shared their positions, they cheered each other on, they worked well together, they became friends, they taught each other things, and most importantly, there was no drama!”
Asch, who just completed her sixth year as the freshman girls volleyball coach at Wellington High School, thinks her squad of 12 players is well equipped to have a promising future, both on and off the volleyball court.
“I look forward to watching them grow as women and players over the next few years,” she said.
The 12-player team had two captains, setter Klaudia Kalisz and defensive specialist/libero Olivia Roque. In addition, the other 10 members of the team were: Ella Weingarten (right side hitter), Madison Martinez (middle hitter), Grace Lucchini (defense/right side), Isabella Payot (outside hitter), Elizabeth Matrafajlo (middle hitter), Gabi De Los Reyes (middle hitter), Isabella Toscano Cruz (outside hitter), Mia Ciezak (defensive specialist), Jessilyn Vera (libero) and Juliana Rodriguez-Martinez (outside hitter).
