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An all-around force, Osceola sophomore Cate Palmi was among the state leaders in kills and aces on a Kowboys’ team that reached the Class 7A volleyball regional final. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS
For a second consecutive year and by a wide margin, Osceola was the county’s best high school girls’ volleyball team. Its spectacular sophomore outside hitter, Cate Palmi, is the Osceola News-Gazette Girls Volleyball Player of the Year, and five teammates were All-County selections.
Palmi’s offense helped lead Osceola (23-7) to Orange Belt Conference and district championships, and to the regional final where the Lady Kowboys fell one game short of a second straight FHSAA Class 7A Final Four appearance. Against county opposition, Osceola went 8-0 and dropped just two sets in the process (24-2).
Just a sophomore, Palmi played a major role in that success. She finished seventh in the state (all classifications) with 516 kills and was 33rd in aces (80). With 1107 kills in just two seasons, she is well on her way to breaking older sister’s Allison’s school record of 1580 kills.
“It’s definitely an honor, but one I know I could not have reached without my teammates,” Palmi said. “This team has been so much fun to be around and they are so talented. We came up one match short of the Final Four this year, but we still accomplished a lot.”
Carrie Palmi, both the OBC and News-Gazette Coach of the Year, is Cate’s mother – a relationship Cate calls different but rewarding.
“Sometimes its seams she is tougher on me than the other players,” Cate said. “But in the end I know it is because she wants me to be the best that I can be. I love playing for her because I do know that she wants the best for me and all our team.”
A Co-Player of the Year last season with teammate Alex Liggeri, Palmi edged out OHS teammates Jordin Southall and Liggeri this year. Fellow sophomore Southall transferred into Osceola’s program during the summer and became a force on the other side with 406 kills and 216 digs.
“Jordin took a lot of pressure off of me this year,” Cate Palmi said about Southall. “She’s big-time player that our opponents have to game plan against and that makes both me and everyone on our team better.”
Liggeri, the setter, set the stage for both Palmi and Southall. She finished the year with 61 aces and 1,023 assists, the third highest total in the state, and amassed a school-record 2,376 career assists.
Those three are joined on the All-County team by libero Dari Bravo and hitter Sophie Spivey. Bravo led the team with 393 digs and also had 42 service aces. Spivey posted big numbers (146 kills) off the bench.
Osceola’s dominance will most likely continue future — four of their All-County selections were sophomores.
And, of note, 6-4 freshman Brooklyn Sippio (82 kills, 72 blocks), a budding star who could be featured on this team as early as next year.
“She grew so much in her first varsity season and has a ton of potential. As she continues to improve, it’s just going to make our team stronger,” Cate Palmi added.
Tohopekaliga (20-7) stretched Osceola to five sets in the district championship match, placed seniors Kamyla Vega (194 assists, 111 digs), Danna Aguilera (181 kills, 158 digs), and Sofia Buo (167 kills) on the team; it was Aguilera’s second time being selected.
Gateway freshman Ivana Reyes had 231 kills with 62 aces and 197 digs in leading the Panthers to a 18-9 record and a District 5A-6 title.
Rounding out the All-County team was Harmony’s Kinzie James (145 kills, 200 digs) and Alana Assante (119 kills, 59 total blocks), and St. Cloud’s Destiny Osborne (160 kills).
ALL-COUNTY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Player of the Year: Cate Palmi, Soph.
All County Team: Osceola: Jordin Southall, Soph.; Alex Liggeri, Sr.; Dari Bravo, Soph.; Sophie Spivey, Soph. Tohopekaliga: Kamyla Vega, Sr., Danna Aguilera, Sr. Sofia Buo, Sr.; Harmony: Kinzie James, Jr.; Alana Asante. Jr.,; Gateway: Ivana Reyes, Fr.; St. Cloud: Destiny Osborne, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Carrie Palmi, Osceola
