St. Thomas Aquinas hasn’t won a volleyball state title since 2004 and the only thing standing in their way enroute to the championship game was Steinbrenner.

The Warriors provided little resistance as the Raiders swept them 3-0 (25-12, 25-21, 25-23) for a shot at their first title in 10 years. St. Thomas will face Winter Springs for the 7A championship LIVE on BHSNSaturday at 1 p.m. 

With five players six feet or taller, the Raiders used their height and multiple looks to confuse Steinbrenner. St. Thomas scored 12-consecutive points off Nikki Lyons serve to take a 17-3 lead in the first set. The Warriors were able to stop the bleeding with four-consecutive points. But then St. Thomas went on a 7-3 run to take the first set, 25-12.

Steinbrenner seemed to settle down in the second set. The Warriors were able to hang with the Raiders and even took a two-point lead midway through the set. The teams exchanged leads and sideouts before St. Thomas pulled away for the 25-21 win.

The Warriors kept it tight in the third until they fell behind 14-11, but then they went on a 6-1 run to take a 17-15 lead. There were seven ties before the Raiders scored consecutive points to close out the match.

Lyons led the Raiders with 23 kills. Lauren Heldt led the Warriors with 12, followed by Avery Bradshaw with 11.