The No. 2 seed Montverde Academy girls volleyball team earned a thrilling 3-1 victory (25-23, 23-25, 25-8, 27-25) over No. 3 seed McKeel Academy in the semifinal round of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) regional championship on Saturday afternoon at The Nest.
With the win, the Eagles advance to the regional championship match for the second consecutive season and will travel to top-seeded Lake Highland Prep on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. for a rematch of last year's regional final. Lake Highland Prep went on to capture the 2024 FHSAA state championship after defeating MVA in straight sets.
In Saturday's semifinal, the Eagles were led by Natalia Baquerizo, who posted a match-high 15 kills along with nine digs. Twin sister, Bianca Baquerizo added 13 kills and seven digs, while Eva Bardales contributed 12 kills and eight digs. Defensively, Nybia Rivera-Alvarez anchored the back line with an impressive 32 digs.
If the Eagles defeat Lake Highland Prep on Tuesday, it would mark MVA's first appearance in the FHSAA state semifinal round since 1987 — a return after 38 years.
