Charlotte edges Middleburg in volleyball semis

Middleburg's quest for a second state volleyball trophy must wait for another year.

Fighting back from the brink of elimination, Charlotte turned the tables and defeated the Broncos 19-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12 in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 5A volleyball semifinal on Nov. 5 at Polk State College in Winter Haven.

Charlotte's Dakota Galley delivered the winning point to end the last hopes of the Broncos, who had survived four match points.

Middleburg, the 2023 state champion, held a 7-4 lead in the final set before the Fighting Tarpons (23-8) stormed in front with a 8-0 run to set up a 1 p.m. championship match on Nov. 7 against Archbishop McCarthy or Viera.

The Broncos (19-12) jumped ahead early before the Fighting Tarpons, boosted by 22 kills from Sammy Vega, closed out the second on a kill from Nikaila Price.

From there, in a back-and-forth third set, Middleburg pulled back in front at the finish to finish on consecutive kills from Abbie Grybb and Katelynn Laezza. But Charlotte clawed back from an 11-6 deficit to win the fourth, before pushing past Middleburg in the fifth.

Maysie Bader led with 17 kills and Laezza had 16 for Middleburg, while Amelia Cobb supplied 21 assists and Reese Forkum recorded 32 digs.

The Broncos are set to return most of their lineup for 2027, with Bader and setter Allie Anschuetz the only seniors on the squad.

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