Championship week at the Winter Haven Health Center on the campus of Polk State College saved its longest day for last. Four state finals were played on Saturday, November 7, and the day had a little of everything: a morning sweep by one of Florida’s most decorated programs, a five set classic that needed extra points to settle, a first time champion in Class 6A, and a nightcap that crowned the first winner of the FHSAA’s new Open Division. By the time the last ball dropped, eight champions had been crowned across the week, four of them for the first time in school history.

Open Division: Orangewood Christian 3, Calvary Christian 0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-19)

The FHSAA introduced the Open Division this season to bring the eight highest rated teams in the state together regardless of class, and the team that spent the year at the top of those ratings finished the job. Orangewood Christian of Maitland, a Class 2A school and the top overall seed, swept No. 2 seed Calvary Christian of Clearwater 25-18, 25-11, 25-19 on Saturday night to win the first Open Division championship. The Rams finished 30-2, with their only losses all season coming against California powers Sierra Canyon and Cornerstone Christian at a tournament in Las Vegas. Orangewood never lost to a Florida school this fall. Head coach Diane Langmo picked up the 800th win of her career during pool play, and her team closed the season on a 17 match winning streak. Calvary Christian, the defending Class 3A champion, had beaten Winter Park in four sets in Friday’s semifinal, while Orangewood took out Tampa Plant in four sets to reach the final.

Class 6A: Horizon 3, DeLand 1 (16-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-20)

Horizon of Winter Garden dropped the first set of the Class 6A final and then took over, beating top seeded DeLand 3-1 on Saturday afternoon for the first state volleyball championship in school history. Elena White led all players with 27 kills for the Hawks and recorded at least six kills in every set. Horizon clinched the title when a DeLand attack sailed long on match point. The Hawks had reached the final the hard way, rallying from two sets down to beat Venice in five sets in Friday’s semifinal. DeLand was playing in its first state final and earned the first state medal in program history. The Bulldogs finished with 28 wins, a school record.

Class 5A: Charlotte 3, Archbishop McCarthy 2 (25-21, 25-22, 25-18, 25-23, 19-17)

The best match of the day was the five set battle for the Class 5A crown. Charlotte of Punta Gorda outlasted top seeded Archbishop McCarthy of Southwest Ranches on Saturday afternoon, taking the fifth set 19-17 to win the first state championship in program history. Head coach Michelle Dill placed the gold medals around her players’ necks after the Tarpons survived a second straight five set fight. Charlotte had also gone the distance in Thursday’s semifinal, rallying past Middleburg 3-2. Archbishop McCarthy, which swept Viera in its semifinal, finished as the state runner up for the second year in a row and closed the season 25-5. Charlotte finished 24-8.

Class 4A: Bishop Moore 3, Legacy 0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-17)

The day opened with a reminder of how high the standard is in Orlando. Top seeded Bishop Moore swept Legacy of Port St. Lucie 25-16, 25-21, 25-17 on Saturday morning to win the Class 4A championship, the eighth state title in program history and the Hornets’ second in the past three years. Bishop Moore finished 25-7 under head coach Tanya Jarvis Starrett. Legacy, a program in just its second year of existence, finished 25-8 as the state runner up. The Lions were the first St. Lucie County public school to reach the state tournament since Fort Pierce Westwood in 1986, and they got to the final by outlasting Fleming Island in a five set semifinal that ended 21-19 in the fifth.

Class 3A: King’s Academy 3, Pine Crest 1 (25-15, 22-25, 25-21, 25-19)

The first four champions were crowned on Wednesday, November 4. King’s Academy of West Palm Beach ended a 20 year wait, beating Pine Crest of Fort Lauderdale in four sets to win the Class 3A title, the fourth state championship in program history and the first since 2006. The Lions, coached by Bethany Avila, finished 25-5. King’s took control of the first set with a 7-1 run, and after Pine Crest evened the match, the Lions closed it out in the fourth behind a dominant stretch from Anabelle Bencosme.

Class 2A: Northside Christian 3, Trinity Catholic 2 (25-23, 20-25, 25-21, 23-25, 15-13)

Northside Christian of St. Petersburg won the first state championship in school history on Wednesday, edging Trinity Catholic of Ocala in five sets for the Class 2A crown. The Mustangs, coached by Sam Cibrone, finished 28-5 and closed the season on an eight match winning streak. The fifth set was tied 13-13 before Northside claimed the final two points. Trinity Catholic fell in the state final for the second time in three seasons.

Class 1A: Seacrest Country Day 3, Boca Raton Christian 0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-15)

Seacrest Country Day of Naples reclaimed the Class 1A championship on Wednesday morning, sweeping defending champion Boca Raton Christian in under 90 minutes. It was the Stingrays’ fifth state title in six years, and it came with a measure of revenge: Boca Raton Christian had eliminated Seacrest in the semifinals last season on the way to the title. Sophie Fong led Seacrest with 11 kills and seven digs and put away the match ending kill. Maria Gorlatova added 10 kills, nine digs and four blocks, and freshman Alexa Hicks handed out 35 assists. The title was the first for first year head coach Tyra Turner, and Seacrest finished 24-7.

Rural Class: Jay 3, Branford 2 (25-22, 22-25, 25-22, 13-25, 15-8)

Jay won the first state championship in program history on Wednesday, beating defending champion Branford in five sets in the Rural Class final. The Royals took the deciding set 15-8. Branford had won the fourth set 25-13 to force the fifth, but the Buccaneers fell in the championship match for the third time in four years.

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