By Kyle LoJacono
The Steinbrenner High volleyball team is only 2-years-old, but the new program has already established a winning reputation.
The Warriors (17-9) won their second straight Class 4A, District 9 championship by defeating Strawberry Crest High 25-13, 25-10, 25-18 Oct. 28 in just 64 minutes.
“I feel like we came out exactly like we needed to,” Warriors coach Staci Elias said. “We came out strong. We served, we passed
really well. You know there in the third game we got a little relaxed for a while. You know our goal all year has been to finish and that’s what they did.
“I think it was an expectation coming in,” Elias continued. “It was definitely an expectation for this season. It’s been a goal from when we started the program last year to put district titles up there.”
The Warriors were led in kills by junior outside hitter Miranda Powell with nine against the Chargers (12-9-1), followed by senior outside hitter Natalia Ortiz with eight and senior middle hitter Megan Moyer with seven.
“We played really hard last year and we’re going to keep it up this year,” Moyer said. “We’ll play our hardest and just go as far as we can this year.”
Ortiz added three blocks in the contest. Powell had two blocks and a team-high seven aces.
Giving those frontline players clean opportunities was setter Erin McMurtry, who had 38 assists while adding five aces and five digs. The senior and co-captain believes the team’s collective mentality can serve them well in regionals.
“We just play together as a team,” McMurtry said. “We have fun, but we’re unified. We don’t want to break apart. If someone is having like a bad day, we just pick them up.”
While most of the Warriors have experienced a district crown before, two are freshman. Outside hitter Rachel Mathison and setter Casey McLean were part of the junior varsity (JV) squad that finished 18-1 this season before moving to varsity.
“It was really honoring because we started off as JV and we bumped up because we were performing so well and now it’s just an honor to be able to defend our district title,” said Mathison, who had four kills in the title match.
Coming up to a team that was the reigning district champ could have been difficult, but McLean said that was not an issue.
“The girls are all so welcoming and there’s a really good atmosphere,” said McLean, who had two aces and three digs against the Chargers.
Lakewood High eliminated Steinbrenner in the first round of regionals last year at home in five games. Elias believes the team will use that as motivation this season.
“I feel very confident,” Elias said. “We’re going to take it one match at a time. We’ve got the experience. We’ve got a year under our belts. They know what it felt like to lose that first round of regionals last year and on our home court, so I think they remember that feeling right now.”
Steinbrenner plays against Palmetto High at home Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
In the 5A-9 tournament, Freedom High fell to Sickles High 25-18, 25-17, 25-21. The Patriots still advance to regionals, but have to play on the road at Venice High Nov. 3.
-All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.
