Two state champions? Seacrest, Barron Collier volleyball playing for titles on Saturday

For the second time in program history, the Seacrest Country Day volleyball team has a chance of going back-to-back in winning state titles.

The Stingrays (25-4) have been the area’s best team from start to finish this year and will take on Boca Raton Christian in the Class 2A State Championship at 10 a.m. Saturday morning at Polk State College.

It’ll be the second time Seacrest is trying to go back-to-back. In 2013, Jan Class was the coach of the program that went on to beat Foundation Academy in five sets. In a quest to repeat in 2014, the Stingrays came up short against a stout St. John Lutheran squad.

Seacrest reaches final: Seacrest Country Day headed back to Class 2A title game with 3-0 sweep of Christ's Church

Barron Collier reaches final: Barron Collier sweeps Wesley Chapel to advance to Class 5A State Championship game

Volleyball regional semifinals: Seacrest, Barron Collier headed to regional championships

“This one, specifically going for two (titles), it’s crazy,” Seacrest middle blocker Carole Ann Hussey said. “Jan likes to use the reference of, we are goldfish. And that being said, everyone is looking at us. No matter what we do, we’re the center of attention because we are on our second appearance now at states. With that being the case, we have to come in cool, calm, collected knowing our skills, knowing how to utilize our skills, and obviously with these practices, really honing the skills to the point where we go in there and know what we need to do. We need to take care of business."

Winning a state championship hasn't yet happened for the Barron Collier volleyball team. That could change at the Cougars play Jensen Beach at 1 p.m. in the Class 5A title game.

While their counterparts in baseball, softball, girls basketball, boys tennis, girls tennis, boys swimming and diving, and wrestling have won a crown, volleyball has yet to capture its first. This could be the Cougars' best shot at doing so.

Barron had just one state championship appearance in 2017, falling to Choctawhachee. The team the Cougars had to beat to get there though, is the squad they'll be facing for the first time since the 2017 state semifinals in Jensen Beach. The Falcons have sat atop the rankings in Class 5A all season.

"It's a big accomplishment," Barron Collier coach Yamil Del Valle said. "It's been an amazing year, being able to be here and me being a part of this, it means a lot to me and the program. We've been in the Final Four for four of my five years here, and not being able to jump to the next step has been hard for me as a coach, and having the opportunity is good and is important for us."

Seacrest looking for two

In the last four seasons, the five-member senior class of Hussey, Breanah Rives, Izzy Soderlund, Sophia Caruso, and Melannie Bello have a record of 89-21 (.809). Rives and the rest of the senior class will hope win No. 90 comes in Winter Haven on Saturday, to give the team one more win before closing their respective chapters on the volleyball court in high school.

“… We just come into the gym every day and give what we have, and to practice like it doesn’t matter,” Rives said. “Jan told us that we just have to play with heart and family, and give everything we have. This is our last game as seniors. We have to uplift everybody to come ready when it’s game time. We’ve been working very, very, very hard. We’ve been playing 5-on-5, having good communication. This week has been very competitive and great way to prepare for states. We have to be ready for anything because you never know what cam happen.

“Last year, we took Lake Worth, and I don’t think anybody expected us beating Lake Worth Christian. We’ve got to be ready.”

Boca Raton Christian vs. Top 100 teams

Win/loss record: 5-3 (losses to No. 32 Boca Raton, No. 52 King's Academy, No. 81 Calvary Christian)

Set record: 17-15

Rives’ kill total thus far, which sits at 327, is down from last season. That can be attributed to two things: the growth of the hitters around her in Hussey, Brooke Spurgeon, Sami Soderlund, and Adriana Garcia, as well as playing far less than the 93 sets the team played last year. This season, Seacrest has yet to go to a fourth or fifth set in any game, which included sweeps over Top 100 opponents in Canterbury, Bradenton Christian, and Keswick Christian. They’ve played just 79 sets this year, winning 68 of them.

Seacrest Country Day vs. Top 100 teams

Win/loss record: 7-2 (losses to No. 1 Westminster Christian and No. 9 Lake Brantley)

Set record: 17-5

“This year has been a different year,” Rives said. “It doesn’t compare to last year. This year, maturity level and everything, they want the ball. They want to hit and score. Now, I think they’re hungry for that, and it shows the competitiveness because of our team. They’re always wanting the ball. That aspect, and we always have each other’s backs. If we know we’re not going to get set, we encourage the others to get set and to hit. In practice lately, I’ve been telling Sami to ‘Hit that ball Sami! Hit it like you’re mad at someone!’ I’ve seen such an improvement already in her play. Our serve receive, we’re just getting more balls in play, and we can run so much more stuff with that.”

Serve receive could play a pivotal role in the game between Seacrest and the Blazers. The Stingrays have just 83 reception errors all season, while Boca Raton Christian has had 173 as a team, including 25 errors in their last two games against Jupiter Christian and Orangewood Christian. For comparison, Seacrest had just four in their regional final and state semifinal contests with a season-high of six, both coming against Westminster Christian and Lake Brantley. Boca Raton Christian’s high in that same statistic is 15.

Should the Stingrays win, Hussey and company would feel proper closure to cap off an impressive run that could potentially begin a dynasty under Class and company at Seacrest.

“I think us as a community, it would mean so much for being as small as we are,” Hussey said. “To really give a lasting impact of what kind of standards we at Seacrest uphold, and that is to work hard to get what you want. We’re not necessarily shrugged off, but for being so small, most people don’t really take us seriously. We work just as hard as any other school, maybe harder. I think that getting another state championship to us, would just be solidifying that we are an amazing program with amazing people to achieve the accomplishments we’ve accomplished.

Barron Collier playing for title, and for Dayna

For the Barron Collier volleyball team that’s chasing its first title, it’s about playing for more than just the team.

There’s one individual in the stands that wears a mask behind the Barron Collier bench who has been supportive this entire season of the team she watches. That’s Dayna Del Valle, the wife of head coach Yamil Del Valle.

Barron Collier vs. Top 100 teams

Win/loss record: 8-4 (losses to No. 1 Westminster Christian, No. 7 Venice, No. 34 Canterbury, No. 38 Gulf Coast)

Set record: 22-15

Dayna suffers from severe intestinal complications, which has limited her in multiple ways. It has forced Yamil Del Valle to work four jobs to help make ends meet, with him getting a maximum of five hours of sleep every night. Dayna couldn't watch the Barron Collier games in person during the 2020 season and much of the 2021 seasons in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Yamil starts at a local hotel as a chef, cooking breakfast until the late morning. From there, he cleans pools until it’s time for volleyball practice or a game. Then, when time allows, he and Dayna work on arts and crafts to keep her happy and in the right state of mind.

"It's been a rollercoaster for her," an emotional Del Valle said. "It's been rough for her. Since I've been here, she's been able to be here with me for two seasons. During the year with COVID, I kept her home. During the following year, I kept her at home to be safe.

Jensen Beach vs. Top 100 teams

Win/loss record: 11-2 (losses to No. 9 Lake Brantley, No. 26 Trinity Prep, No. 72 Orangewood Christian)

Set record: 25-10

"Seeing her going through a lot, it breaks my heart. They've (the team has) been a part of it because they grieve with me when I've been struggling even when I don't feel like being here. They give me the energy to stay, and they've been seeing it. Having her this entire season supporting them, and seeing that smile on her even though we try to give her as much space that we can wearing her mask, it means a lot for them to see her here, supporting them no matter what."

Winning a state championship for the school, and for Dayna, has been on Keira Kruk's mind. Kruk came to Barron Collier last year with state title aspirations on her mind, and hopes this is the year it can happen for the Cougars.

"She's the mom of the whole team," Kruk said. "Yamil and her don't have any kids, so we are her kids. There's definitely that incentive to play for her, for sure. She's the sweetest woman ever. We love her so much. She's done so much for this team, and this program."

Cousins going for gold

Oddly enough, cousins will be playing for championships — Barron Collier outside hitter Kendra Pruitt and Seacrest libero Alexa Haley. Haley already has one under her belt, while Pruitt is aiming for her first since transferring from First Baptist after last year.

Pruitt has been a solid asset for the Cougars in 2022, posting 220 kills, 198 digs, 32 aces, and 28 blocks. Her numbers in aces and blocks are both new career highs.

"It's super fun," Pruitt said. "I watched her play for the state championship last year, and it was such a cool experience. Being able to play right after her is going to be super exciting. I'm super excited to cheer her on, and our whole family is going to be there, so it's a blessing that we get to play and go through this together."

Haley is one who is excited about the prospect of seeing both her and Pruitt hoist state titles, although it may be a tall order to do so given Barron enters as an underdog to Jensen Beach. Haley has been competing at the top of the state leaderboard in digs, entering Saturday with 591. That ranks her seventh statewide with a chance of jumping up to fifth in the 2A title game.

"Very exciting," Haley said. "A lot of their players are on our club team this year, so that's good. It's good to share that happiness and celebrate with them. My cousin Kendra is on that team, and I know our grandparents are very happy for us and that's very exciting."

Follow Southwest Florida Sports Writer Alex Martin on Twitter: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Seacrest Country Day, Barron Collier volleyball playing for state titles