By any measuring stick, Osceola High has become a state power in the sport of girls volleyball. Under Carrie Palmi, the Kowboys have won numerous district championships of late, racked up multiple 20-win seasons, and have made deep runs into the state tournament – including a Final Four appearance in 2022.
With a junior-dominated squad that is incredibly deep and talented, Osceola could challenge for a state title this year and is off to a flying start, out-scoring opponents 150-63 in three-set sweeps of Celebration and Dr. Phillips. But the Kowboys are not the only solid team in Osceola County. Upstart Tohopekaliga, Gateway, Harmony, and St. Cloud have had good seasons in recent years. Here’s a look at this year’s teams:
By: J. Daniel Pearson
For Positively Osceola
CELEBRATION
Head Coach: Lidvani Pereira-Paiva
2023 Record: 4-7
New coach Lidvani Pereira will have an interesting mix of veterans and new players as she builds the program. “We aspire to not only compete at the highest level in our conference but to build a legacy of excellence that will inspire future players in our program,” Pereira said. “We want to create a new environment where our athletes are encouraged to push their limits both physically and mentally, while learning lessons that extend far beyond the court.”
Returning starters for Celebration include Sophie Fiore (Sr., OH), Allyson Witt (Jr., S), and sophomores Aline Mello (MB) and Adriana Sabastiani (L); while newcomers that hope to break into the lineup are junior varsity call-ups Karin Camacho (Sr., OH), Hailey Gomez (Jr., S), and Valeria Maldonado (Jr., L). Pereira is also high on the potential of Mya Alfonso, who earned a spot on the varsity as a freshman.
GATEWAY
Head Coach Heidi Lizardi
2023 Record: 18-9 (district Champions, 5A Regional semifinalist)
The Panthers are coming off an outstanding year, where they finished third in the Orange Belt Conference Tournament and then went on a late season run, winning the 5A District 6 championship with wins over Auburndale, Lake Region and Lake Wales; before knocking off Satellite to advance to the regional semifinals.
Coach Heidi Lizardi welcomes back some outstanding talent in Ivana Reyes (So., Outside hitter, 231 kills), Kaitlyn Paulino (Sr., Outside Hitter, 211 kills) and Lesliean Rivera (So., Middle Blocker, 42 Blocks). Varsity newcomers Vlanka Mendez (Jr., Setter) and Mary Gallagher (So., Middle Blocker) should pick up some of the offense from departed senior Aniyah Radcliff (109 kills).
“Although we only have three returning starters, their discipline, leadership and character should provide a smooth transition as we continue to build our program,” Lizardi said. “We would like to repeat the success of last season and will work hard towards that goal. Improvement on a day-to-day basis while continuing to have fun in the sport we love is our goal.”
HARMONY
Head Coach: Ryan Kading
2023 Record: 14-13
Coach Ryan Kading welcomes back a veteran squad off of last year’s 14-13 team, including multi-sport stars Kinzie James, who earned first-team All-OBC honors last year and defensive specialist and co-captain Martha Edwards. Dominant middle blocker Alana Asante returns for her third year in the starting lineup. Second-team All-OBC selections Adriana Amy (libero) and Allyson Godwin (middle hitter) also return to give the Longhorns strong senior leadership. Up from the junior varsity is a pair of promising players in Samantha Vickers (Soph., OH) and Yareliz Castro (Jr., DS).
“Fueled by veteran leadership and promising new talent, our theme for this season is ‘What Will We Do?,’ Kading said. “We are hoping that this promotes the team to take control of their own destiny and go above and beyond to achieve endless results. We want to be the ones to determine our path to success.”
LIBERTY
Head Coach: Amanda Lozada
2023 Record: 4-12
Liberty returns several upper classmen including team co-captains Mercy Valentin (JR., OH), Sam Oyola (Jr., L), and Yamilet Pabon (Sr., MB); along with senior outside hitter Jada Morten. Valentin is a threat both in the front and as a server, leading the Chargers last year with 43 aces. Two freshmen, Didielis Negron (OH) and Morgan Ocasio (MB) impressed enough in fall camp to earn varsity roster spots.
OSCEOLA
Head Coach: Carrie Palmi
2023 Record: 23-7 (OBC, District Champions, 7A Regional Semifinalist)
Loaded with talent, Osceola now has experience to go with it and hopes to ride those attributes to a State Final Four and possibly beyond. The Kowboys are led by a pair of Division-1 junior outside hitters in Cate Palmi (South Florida commit) and Jordin Southall (Vanderbilt commit), who combined for 922 kills last year. Add Sophie Spivey (146 kills) to the mix and the Lady Kowboys are formidable on the outside.
The middle is stout too. Brooklyn Sippio, a 6’-4” sophomore, improved by leaps and bounds in her freshman year wore on and Osceola has two more formidable players in the middle, including juniors Mikayla Mathews and Niilah Stevenson.
Senior Andrea Rodriguez (transfer, Southland Christian) and junior transfer Delaney Webb (St. Cloud) will look to replace departed all-time assist leader Alex Liggeri (Chowan University) as the team’s setter. Junior Dari Bravo (616 digs, 69 aces) gives Osceola another next-level player at libero.
The Lady Kowboys will test themselves in the regular season. This weekend they will play in the top division of the NIKE Tournament of Champions in Gainesville, where they most likely run into both state and nationally ranked teams. State ranked teams Windermere, Bishop Moore, Hagerty and Winter Park (’23 7A Finalist) are all on the schedule this season.
“As was the case last year, we have a lot of talent on this team,” Coach Carrie Palmi, who is now in her 20th year with the Lady Kowboys, said. “The difference is those kids now have experience. There a huge difference between being a team dominated by talented freshmen and sophomores and having a team that is being led by juniors and seniors. In the preseason, you could really see the difference in the chemistry, focus, and intensity between this year and last year’s teams. We do have a lot of lofty goals we want to obtain this year, but we are going to take them one at time.”
POINCIANA
Head Coach: Richard Sanchez-Morales
2023 Record: 4-7
Poinciana got off to a 1-1 start this season, defeating New Dimensions but losing to regional power Lake Nona. Head coach Richard Sanchez has seven seniors back this season, including co-captains Olivia Barber (OH) and Aidalee Vargas (L) as they try to improve on last year’s 4-7 mark.
ST. CLOUD
Head Coach: Travis Foster
2023 Record: 9-18
Taking over for long-time coach Ette Singleton, former Harmony coach and Tohopekaliga Athletics Director Travis Foster will build his team around senior middle hitter Karly uchinskas (117 kills, 193 digs). Newcomers Sam Fernandez (So., Libero) and Tohopekaliga transfer Tessa Rojas (So., Outside Hitter) figure into the plans this season.
“We have a great mesh of seniors and younger players and I am excited to showcase their talents this season,” Foster said. “As we attack this season, our goals will be play consistently; while improving on a daily basis.”
TOHOPEKALIGA
Head Coach: Hiram Padilla
2023 Record: 20-7
Osceola County’s newest school (opened in 2018) has established itself as a top volleyball program over the last couple of year. Although Hiram Padilla saw much of his talent graduate off of last season’s 20-7 team that took Osceola to five sets in a regional quarterfinal game, Tohopekaliga tends to reload its roster rather than rebuild.
Top returning players for the Tigers include Sophia Moreno (Sr., MB), Amyaiza Jordan-Cruz (Sr., OH), and Elysse Rivera (Sr., OH/MB). Jordan had 91 kills last season; while Rivera had 21 blocks and 10 aces.
