Already considered a Classic amongst school rivalries, Palmer Trinity School (PTS) hosted Westminster Christian School for a rematch of their loss at Westminster's gym last month. The game would be the rematch of the 2009 season!
As with every match in the past, spectators were treated with a high-octane, powerful game between the undisputed powerhouses of volleyball in Miami. Palmer Trinity School, headed by 6’2” Sophomore Paulina Prieto, Senior outside spiker Kristen Titley, and senior setter Sarah Alfonzo, were coming in to the court with just two losses in the season, and that one of those losses was against Westminster Christian’s Lady Warriors.
The Lady Warriors came into the court short by one critical player, their star setter/spiker, Rebecca Acevedo was out with a seriously sprained ankle that occurred during one of their practice sessions that week.
Almost a carbon-copy of last month's game, both teams came out with all guns blazing. However, the end result gave PTS the win, but not without a huge struggle. The Lady Falcons had to struggle with a marvelous team, where Westminster’s forte is blocking and deep ground defense. They did a good job shutting out many of the PTS spikes with their meticulously synchronized single, double and triple blocks!
Westminster again displayed the best defense in the league, with their pinpoint blocking and awesome placement of personnel. They managed to keep our best spikers at bay, but not for long.
PTS was able to shift their spiking approach to include more inside and outside combinations, focusing on their weaker blockers. At the same time, PTS began with shabby positioning on the court on defense, but was able to overcome and began to make some impressive saves and digs. A lot of points came off from the PTS alternate hitters, whom were able to counter with off-speed hits and keep their blockers second-guessing!!
All games went over 20 points for each team, and the last one PTS was able to show a lot of heart in playing focused and refused to have a repeat of the last game against John Edwards High School, where they lost in the last set during the finals at the Cardinal Gibbons Academy Tournament, and went out powerfully to finish off the last set at 15-9! The final tally was as follows: 26-24, 23-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-9.
Hustle and determination were the key focus points that helps the Lady Falcons persevere during the final tie-breaking set. They were able to gain, and keep the lead from the beginning of the set and finish off the Lady Warriors this time.
Both teams played with a lot of heart and passion. Which, coupled by the depth of skill knowledge and experience from both teams, it’s why everyone that witnessed the game walked away awed by the experience.
Palmer Trinity also hosted a “Dig for the Cure”, where over $ 1,600.00 were collected for the Walk for the Cure Breast Cancer program. A special thank you is in order to all who donated.
All in all, this particular match up between these two schools demonstrate what schools can put out when their athletic organization supports and enhances their sport-specific development plan with a depth of field where young players work their way up through Middle School and Junior Varsity teams, where skill development and experience/confidence builds up remarkably to reach skill proficiency that will allow them, after graduation, to continue to college and university ranks and even professional ranks.
Both teams continue this sport-specific development long after the school season is over by continuing the ladies’ development through club action.
Most Lady Warriors continue participating as a team in their Elite Volleyball Club, where last year all their teams were the highest ranked teams in Miami, and several of their players are playing collegiate level volleyball.
The Palmer Trinity Lady Falcons continue their development through the South Dade Volleyball Club, another powerhouse in Miami.
The scripting for these ladies’ development closely resembles the Broward area teams, whom have dominated Volleyball in the state of Florida and are top-ranked nationally for many years. Broward teams have a meticulous organization that develops individual athletes and teams throughout the whole year. The level of play witnessed at the Palmer Trinity School gym last Thursday happens literally every time Broward schools meet…that is how powerful they're teams are!
This type of commitment is what is needed in order to develop an excellent volleyball program. With so many natural athletes in Miami, it will be a matter of time before we begin to match and even surpass Broward’s powerhouse teams, and be recognized throughout the United States as one of the best volleyball factories.
However, these teams need your support, so please go and attend the games, and ensure that your athletic departments focus their energies in the long-term development of girls’ sports in Miami!
It is hoped that both teams will meet for the tie-breaker at the semi-finals game at Palmer Trinity on the 27th!!
At the report, we get very excited when we hear of the many matches across South Florida that instill such passion for the sport of Volleyball. We know that all of you who read the Report share in such a passion. In the future please bring someone to a High School Volleyball Game - it will be a gift that they are not soon to forget!
Special Thanks to Philip "Flip" Littke for his great pictures and insight to this marquee match-up in Class 2A in Miami-Dade County.
No comments:
Post a Comment