Coral Shores started its regular season with a win against Basilica school on Aug. 21. The 3-0 victory made the ’Canes the team to beat this season as far as Monroe County rivalries go; Coral Shores was able to top Key West and Marathon in a preseason tournament, and coach Sam Ovalle knows he has the right recipe for a strong season.
“Our strength is playing together. They give 100 percent. This is why I coach,” he said. The team’s chemistry, coupled with a willingness to accept coaching and give their all, has made for some exceptional plays already, paving the way for a successful fall.
For their opener, the crowd got to see everything Coral Shores had to offer. “Everyone played,” said Ovalle. And despite a bit of a sluggish start, the Lady ’Canes found their rhythm.
“We were not playing to our potential,” Ovalle said. “Then we stepped it up.”
The Hurricanes won in three sets, but Basilica gave them a run for their money in set number three, scoring 21 points to the Hurricanes’ 25. “Basilica was very smart with the ball,” Ovalle said.
MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys Weekly
After their loss to Coral Shores, Basilica School made the trip to Miami Cushman for an early-season tournament on Aug. 23. While there, the Mariners held their own against Mater Brickell Academy, ultimately losing 2-0 with set scores of 25-22, then 25-19.
The close matchup against the Bulls gave the Mariners the confidence they needed to pick up their first win of the season later that afternoon. Basilica School defeated the Cushman Cougars 2-1 to get their first W in the books, then quickly added two more to bring them to 3-2 this season.
The Mariners beat Cristo Rey School 2-0, allowing just 15 points in the two sets. Basilica’s defense got stingier against Horeb Christian, when they beat the Mustangs 25-0 and 25-4. Offensively, Kallisto Sims was credited for her remarkable serving, and the team’s record captured the tournament’s runner-up trophy.
Up next for Basilica School is a pair of home matches. On Aug. 29 they play Horeb Christian again, this time in front of a home crowd The following day, they play Bartow, a 6A school with an enrollment of over 2,000 students. The Yellow Jackets will give the Mariners a different look than Horeb, but Basilica is not too concerned. The team, whose school has fewer than 100 students, tends to play up when faced with strong opponents, according to coach Robert Wright.
Also facing the Yellow Jackets of Bartow this week is Key West, but not before the Conchs host Coral Shores on Aug. 28.
Last week, Key West played a trio of teams in tournament action, facing the Park Vista Cobras out of Fort Worth, Riviera Beach’s Suncoast Chargers and the Sharks of Spanish River.
The Conchs lost all three matches but were able to win sets against all of their opponents, showing they can hang with larger squads. The Cobras and Sharks are both 7A teams with well over twice Key West’s enrollment, proving that the Conch roster is full of talent. Coach Kim Butler’s scheduling of high-caliber teams is purposeful and gives Key West an advantage in the later stages of the season, including playoffs.
Also still in the hunt for their first win this season is Marathon. The Lady Fins lost 3-0 against Somerset Silver Palms and NSU University School last week. Against 4A Somerset, the 1A Rural Dolphins showed promise, battling to within a few points in the second set. Daysi Williams registered seven kills, Mackenzie Budi had three blocks and an ace and Addison Collins served up a trio of aces in the loss.The Dolphins won’t face another team in their classification until districts, where they stand a great chance to compete for a title against other schools of similar size.
