The St. Thomas Aquinas girl’s volleyball team has climbed the mountaintop once again. In an incredible display of determination, teamwork, and dedication to their craft, the Lady Raiders secured their second consecutive Class 6A State Championship.
The group made history this past weekend in the FHSAA 6A State Championship held in Winter Haven, Fla. at Polk State College. The Lady Raiders entered the weekend with high expectations, and for good reason. They had not lost a match in nearly two months and did not lose a set in the prior two rounds of the FHSAA playoffs. However, they knew that to achieve glory again, it was not going to be easy.
In the semifinals, they cruised past Sunlake three sets to zero. On the other half of the bracket, number one seeded Gulf Breeze won three sets to zero as well. The final matchup was set up in front of a ferocious crowd in central Florida.
The championship match showcased what made this Lady Raiders team special. It was symbolic of the self-belief instilled in them all season long by head coach Lisa Zielinski and the rest of the coaching staff.
The Raiders won the first set, 25-21. Gulf Breeze responded by winning set two, 25-21. After winning set three 25-17, STA could almost taste an eighth state championship; but it was not going to be easy. Gulf Breeze won the fourth set 25-21, setting up a decisive fifth set.
This was a position that the team had not been in almost all year. The Raiders had only played one other game all season that went to a fifth set, all the way back in the beginning of September. But it did not matter. The team had trained, both physically and mentally, for a winner-take-all moment like they had right in front of them.
With the traveling fans at their backs and the rest of Raider Nation watching back home, the team battled. The score was tied at 11-11 and 14-14 in the fifth set. On the biggest stage, it could not get any closer.
With the score 15-14 in their favor, and after a referee discussion, the Raiders were awarded championship point and clinched the victory. The players dog piled on the court and the coaches screamed and embraced on the sidelines. The group knew they had just made history, again.
The victory represents the 131st State Championship in STA history. For the volleyball team, it is their eighth state championship. And for Lisa Zielinski, her eighth as well. In a year in which she achieved an incredible individual milestone of 900 wins, she guided her team to the ultimate team goal as well.
This team will go down in STA history, and will always be remembered and recognized as state champions.
