High school volleyball: Lake Worth Christian continues state title defense with regional final win

BOYNTON BEACH — Defending 2A state champion Lake Worth Christian volleyball has been checking off boxes since the season began, and with Saturday’s Class 2A Region 4 finals victory against Miami-Westwood Christian (25-3, 25-9, 25-5), they’re one step closer to a coveted repeat title.

The win on Saturday was never in question. Facing a previously undefeated Warriors (15-1) squad, Lake Worth Christian represented Palm Beach County with an iron fist, allowing a combined 17 points through all three sets in the 3-0 sweep.

“You’ve just got to keep doing the little things,” Lake Worth Christian head coach Terri Kaiser said. “Focusing on doing those little things and making the big plays, communicating with each other, having fun.”

If those were more boxes to check from Kaiser, the Defenders looked to be accomplishing everything they set out to do. Errors were almost nonexistent, big plays came from every player on the court, and the players certainly appeared to be having fun as they owned the court.

“It’s hard to play a team that isn’t exactly at our level,” junior Karly Horn said. “But we just have that mentality that we have other hard games ahead of us and we have to use [these] to practice.”

Multiple members of Lake Worth Christian made significant marks on the stat sheet Saturday.

Freshman Sarah Montero tallied a whopping 21 service points to go along with four aces. Sophomore Abby Toeniskoetter had eight blocks and seven kills. Senior Ali Tomlinson notched 11 digs, and Junior Emily Caputo had six kills and a pair of blocks.

“I’ve never felt so close to my team,” Montero said. The freshman also played with last year’s Lake Worth Christian squad and has been a key young member in this year’s quest to repeat.

“I’m so comfortable with them, and we depend on each other,” she continued. “It’s not like a separate thing. It’s not just a defensive game, it’s not just a hitting game, it’s not a setting game. We all get each other going. I just love that.”

Up next, Lake Worth Christian will host First Baptist Academy in the state semifinals, a team they beat 3-1 in September during the regular season.

Other area regional final

King’s Academy was slated to play their own regional finals game against Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, but the Melbourne-based private school was forced to forfeit the contest due to COVID-19 related concerns.  

The forfeit win sets up a matchup of undefeated teams in the Class 3A state semifinals as King's will face Miami-Westminster Christian next Saturday.