Chiles Volleyball Keeps State Championship Run Alive with 5-Set Victory

The Chiles Timberwolves relied on their talent, resilience, and experience to defeat the visiting Beachside Barracudas in the 5A FHSAA state championship regional finals for the second consecutive year. Chiles won in five-sets, 20-25, 25-9, 23-25, 25-11, 15-9.

The rematch featured massive momentum shifts, but the defending 5A state champion Timberwolves responded convincingly when their backs were against the wall. After losing the first set (25-20) and finding themselves in an unfamiliar position, the Timberwolves responded with flawless execution and a 25-9 win in the second set.

In the third set, Beachside responded with better play and edged Chiles 25-23 in the most competitive set of the match.

Down 2 sets to 1, just one set from elimination, Chiles was down 4-2 early in the fourth set when Chiles challenged a call. There was a ten-minute delay as the referees sorted out the challenge, which resulted in a reversal and made the score 3-3. The Timberwolves responded with a 10-point run behind the serving of outside hitter Lindsay Smith. Down 13-3, Beachside managed to regain their composure at the end of set, losing 25-11.

Both teams began the fifth and final set with a high level of play trading points to reach 5-5. However, over the next three points Chiles junior middle blocker Logan Abernathy scored two blocks and a kill to secure an 8-5 lead. From there, Chiles would close out the deciding set with a 7-4 run, winning 15-9.

Seniors Eva Goodson and Lindsay Smith carried the offensive load for the Timberwolves. Goodson, an Appalachian State commit, had 18 kills on 42 attempts and added 12 assists, while Smith, who is committed to Embry Riddle, added 18 kills on 49 attempts. Smith also added 5 aces on 41 service attempts (Chiles won 35 points on Smith’s 41 service attempts). Sophomore Sterling Carlile added 10 kills, while senior setter Natalie Gibson was credited with 39 assists.

On the defensive front, Chiles held Barracuda’s leading hitter Adraina Jeanpierre to 13 kills on 59 attempts. The defensive front was led by Abernathy who recorded 7 blocks. On the backline, senior Maddie Joiner led the defensive effort with 27 digs, followed by Goodson (20), Smith (20), Gibson (16) and Carlile (14).

With the victory, the Chiles Timberwolves are on the verge of back-back state championships and the expectations will be high. According to the MaxPreps ranking system, Beachside was the second best 5A team in the state of Florida, behind only Chiles.

The 5A state semifinals will be held on the campus of Polk State College on November 7-8. Chiles (29-1), the top seed, will face Port Charlotte (14-16) the fourth seed who won their region as the 8th seed, at 7 pm on November 7th. The other semifinal features Gainesville and Archbishop McCarthy.