Coming into the night 8A District 7 was assured to have a new champion. On Tuesday night the Wharton Wildcats ended the chances of the Plant Panthers winning an 18th consecutive district title, defeating them in five sets. Meanwhile the Bloomingdale Bulls swept Riverview to set Thursday night's championship matchup.
Heavily favored Bloomingdale came into the match having dropped only five sets all season. Undefeated in the district, the #2 ranked Bulls racked up a 24-1 record in Claudia Cabrera's first season as Bloomingdale head coach.
The #8 Wharton Wildcats knew they would need to be at their best against the Bulls, who swept the Wildcats in two previous meetings this season. Though If they were intimidated they didn't let it show. Wharton's Tyler Sroufe (6 Kills, 7 Blocks), one of Florida's best setters, fed Kathryn Attar (29 Kills, 2 Blocks), top five in the state in Kills, to combine for 35 points through five closely contested sets.
After Wharton took the first two sets in impressive fashion, Bloomingdale found their stride and their stars stepped up in a big way. Karissa Rhoades' 14 Kills and 3 Blocks had her inline for the Player of the Game nod before she was edged out by an electric Chelsea Chavers. Chavers was all over the court all night finishing with 18 Kills to earn the BHSN Player of the Game.
Bloomingdale looks poised to make a strong run in the State Volleyball Championship Tournament in November.
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