High school volleyball: Santa Fe sweeps Calvary Christian to capture first state title
FORT MYERS — The Calvary Christian Eagles had the answers to the Santa Fe Raiders in the top half of the opening set of the Class 4A volleyball state championship match Wednesday from Suncoast Credit Union Arena.
The Raiders, who boast a dangerous hitting trio in senior Rylie Tam, junior Jalyn Stout and sophomore Joselynn Sanjurjo, were uncharacteristically slow to settle into the game — something Santa Fe head coach Eric Marshall attributed to nerves.
"From a coach's perspective, we saw nerves," Marshall said. "I don't say nerves like they were scared, but they were anxious. I didn't think we were scared a moment at all."
But once the nerves eased, top-seeded Santa Fe cruised to the program's first title in school history in a 3-0 win over Calvary Christian.
More high school sports: Florida high school football: 8 can't-miss games in FHSAA regional semifinals
After falling behind 11-6 in the opening set, largely thanks to the Calvary Christian's stifling defense, Santa Fe slowly started to find its footing.
"I think that team was ready," Marshall said of the Eagles. "That team came in ready to play. They didn't care who we were, they didn't care what our ranking was... they didn't care that we hadn't dropped a set. I don't think they knew all that stuff."
Santa Fe scores 11 straight points to win first set
After getting net violations and wide attacks out of their system, the Raiders went on to score 11 unanswered points in the latter half of the first set before winning the opening set 25-16.
And from that point forward, it was all Santa Fe.
More: Santa Fe volleyball looks to end school's championship drought on Wednesday
The Raiders jumped out to a 4-0 advantage in the second set as Tam and Stout began to find their groove.
Santa Fe generated runs of four points, three points and five points throughout the second set to dig a hole too deep for Calvary Christian to claw itself out of.
Stout contributed seven points, and Tam tallied five points in the second set, helping the Raiders to a 25-17 win in the second set.
With the pressure mounting on the Eagles, who moved up into Class 4A this season, the Raiders continued to flex their strength, leading by as many as six early in the final set.
Aces from Tam and senior Faith Marquis, paired with net violations, wide attacks and points from Stout began to pile up.
Stout, who finished with 18 kills, tallied four kills in the third set, in addition to two blocks and an ace. Meanwhile, Sanjurjo's presence was felt in the third set as she slammed a pair of kills late in the set to help Santa Fe increase its lead.
Stout's 18 kills led the Raiders, while Tam finished with 10. Meanwhile, junior Miya Thomas paced Santa Fe in digs with 16, while junior Anisa Dorlouis led in assists with 22.
Calvary Christian was paced by senior Taylor Bates (9 kills), junior Emily Navarro (22 assists) and senior Jenna Keller (11 digs). The Eagles ended their 2021 campaign with a record of 26-5 in seeing their winning streak end at 14 in a row.
Come final whistle, the Raiders had swept the Eagles after beating them 25-14 in the final set.
Santa Fe achieved goal of roaring through the playoffs
Santa Fe not only swept its way to a championship trophy, but the Raiders rolled their way through the state tournament — something Marshall said he and the team decided to make their goal prior to the playoffs.
"We got together and said, we don't want to just win," Marshall said. "We don't want to drop a set. And they did it. Since the tournament, we haven't dropped a single set, which is just an incredible feat for the players."
The Raiders, winners of 16 in a row, finished the season with a record of 29-3, 27 without giving up a set.
Santa Fe's title game appearance Wednesday afternoon was the program's third in four years.
Yet each time, the Raiders left Fort Myers with the runners-up trophy and silver medals around their necks.
But this time was different.
"To not wear silver today," Marshall began, "It's fantastic."
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Santa Fe High School Raiders are state Class 4A volleyball champions
