By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

With the Orange Belt Conference volleyball title on the line, there was a buzz Wednesday when undefeated Osceola visited Harmony.

It took about half a game, but the Longhorns reminded the Kowgirls – and everyone in the gym – why they’ve claimed the last two OBC and district titles.

Despite each game being tied 10-10 or 13-13, Harmony’s offense, led by junior setter Genesis Viera, already a commit to the University of Tulsa, ramped up in each one and put away Osceola by scores of 25-14, 25-18, 25-17.

Harmony (8-2) is 5-0 in OBC play and clinched no worse than a tie for its third-straight conference championship. The Longhorns play Poinciana in the  Oct. 20 regular-season finale. Osceola (6-1) is 5-1 with a match at Celebration Wednesday.

HHS Coach Eric Trowbridge said that after placing second at the Lake Highland Prep Showcase last weekend, his team was mentally ready for another match filled with the requisite pleasantries.

“We lost to Clearwater Central Catholic, probably the best team I’ve ever coached against, in the tournament,” he said. “Our matches with (OHS) are always competitive.”

While the Kowgirls got points early from their front line of Megan Hearn, Madison McGehee and Natalie McClain, they couldn’t match the hitting of Harmony’s Kendall Pollock and Marie Gilbert (12 kills) and blocking of Alicia Palm (six blocks, five kills) and Nia Frederick, with Viera (24 assists, six kills) distributing the ball among them all.

That offense took slim leads in each game and turned them into big ones, using runs of 10-2, 11-4 and 7-0 late to put them away with little fanfare.

Viera said that it’s not hard to keep focus when the goal is to reach the state tournament.

“The goals don’t change,” she said.

Trowbridge agreed.

“The ultimate goal is to be better than last year. We’re well on our way. The seniors have been through the crying after losing to Ocala Vanguard (in the regional semifinals the last two years) and get reminded of it all the time.”

OHS Coach Carrie Palmi was disappointed.

“We just made too many errors, and in rally scoring every one’s a point,” she said. “Our focus is the district, it always has been, but of course we wanted to win tonight. They were in their gym and they were excited and we didn’t match it.”

Osceola warmed up for Tuesday by beating previously undefeated Lake Minneola, 25-20, 26-24, 25-15 that kept the Kowgirls perfect (5-0) in 7A District 5 play.

“We played well in that one, I think it was our experience in big games,” Palmi said. “They have three club players so they’re going to be really good later this year, let alone next year. I’m not sure I want to see them again in the playoffs, but we may.”

Harmony warmed up for Wednesday by handling St. Cloud, 25-15, 25-11, 25-11, on Tuesday in a 7A-6 game. Chaney Howard had five blocks. The Longhorns are 3-0 in the district with three 7A-6 matches remaining. It should get the No. 1 seed.

Harmony hosts Celebration, Gateway and Oak Ridge Tuesday through Thursday. The Kowgirls are at Liberty and Celebration Tuesday and Wednesday before hosting their “Dig Blue” match Thursday against Gateway.

“We wanted to hold a game for prostate cancer awareness for personal reasons,” Palmi said. “One of my player’s dad has a bad case of PC right now and (he) has always been one of our biggest fans.”

Another county squad playing strong volleyball right now is City of Life Christian, which is 5-0 in 2A District 6 play despite a starting lineup made up entirely of freshmen and sophomores.

Freshmen hitters Alexandra Cardona and Krissia Cornejo and sophomore setter Gabriella Carrion lead the team in their second season with the Warriors.

“It’s the same team as last year, just with some more organization,” first-year Coach Cynthia Ortega said. “The girls worked hard through the summer and are now seeing the results.”