Breathe.
That’s what Viera High volleyball coach Sarah Wayne told her Hawks to do Saturday afternoon as they prepared for their biggest set of the season.
Breathe … and believe.
Fourth-seeded Viera was preparing for a fifth set against No. 1 seed Osceola, which had the benefit of a big Kissimmee home crowd – and a big-time Division I player – in the Class 5A regional semifinals.
“Coach Wayne made us all take a deep breath,” senior setter Allie Brown wrote in an email. “She reminded us that we deserved to compete, and that she had confidence in our ability to get the job done.
“As a team, we mainly reminded ourselves that we had made it this far by having fun and playing for each other and we needed to continue to do so in the fifth set.”
The set didn’t start out well, as the Kowboys raced to a 3-0 lead. But then, as Brown put it, the Hawks “flipped a switch.” And when Viera junior Emery Hart blocked Osceola’s best player on match point, it punctuated a victory that will be added to the lore the Hawks have created over the past six seasons.
“I think it shows our determination. As a whole, we battled all five sets and showed grit that I am really proud of,” Brown wrote following Viera’s 16-25, 25-16, 25-23, 20-25, 15-10 victory.
“We didn’t shy away from a challenge, and I think that says a lot about our mindset.”
Viera (20-9), which is now 5-0 in regional semifinal games over the past six years, advances to the Class 5A, Region 2 final on Wednesday night at 7 against No. 2 seed Gateway (22-3).
Viera, which had won only one district title (2011) and no regional playoff games prior to the 2021 season, will be looking for its fourth trip the state final four in the past six years, the first since 2023.
The Hawks will have to win back-to-back road games to do it, but that’s nothing new for Wayne & Co., who pulled off five-set upsets on the road at Lakeland and New Smyrna Beach in 2021 on the way to their first state semifinal appearance.
Saturday’s win at Osceola now falls into that category.
“The atmosphere was really great. Our girls came in with a ton of energy,” Wayne wrote in an email. “Our parents are always amazing in the stands too - shout out to them.
“… Anytime you have a five-set match in the postseason, it’s a huge win for the program.”
Osceola (21-7) came in with a high-powered offense led by 6-foot-4 senior West Virginia commit Brooklyn Sippio, who had 434 kills, and defense led by six-foot junior middle blocker Kimora Richardson (75 blocks).
“We worked for two days in practice on defending (Sippio) on the right side,” Wayne wrote. “I thought we did an exceptional job, both Emery and Addison Casey.”
Viera finished the afternoon with 14 total blocks – five by senior Shaylee Wreggit, four by Casey, two by Hart and sophomore Ava Sarratt and one by junior Brighton O’Brien.
It was all part of a huge day for Hart, who finished with a triple-double – 14 kills, 10 aces and 12 digs.
“Emery definitely rose to the occasion and had a phenomenal game,’ Brown wrote. “As a team though, I think everyone took it up a notch because no one is ready for our season to be over yet.”
Brown is right. Senior Piper Garry had 35 digs, three aces and two assists. O’Brien had 10 kills, three digs and an assist. Brown had 26 assists, four digs and an ace, followed by junior Libby Williams with 10 assists, three aces and a kill.
Sarratt had seven kills and three digs. Casey, a junior, had seven kills and a dig. Freshman Samantha Wasdin had four kills and an assist. Wreggit added two kills.
Senior Brooke Pickel had five digs and an ace. Senior Brooke Bordwine had an ace and a dig.
“The difference was our serve and that we passed well, especially in games two and five,” Wayne wrote. “I thought both our setters -- Libby Williams and Allie Brown -- did a great job with the knowing the matchups we wanted.
“They also served really well. Piper Garry was solid in the back row and covered our hitters very well.”
Viera also did a good job of serving, collecting 19 aces. It was one of the things Wayne told her players to do before that fifth set – be more aggressive on the serve and on defense.
Brown said working around the Kowboys’ height was a challenge, but one she and Williams were ready for.
“We really had to mix up our plays,” Brown wrote. “Height can definitely be intimidating, but mixing up the offense means our hitters can find success and it definitely was fruitful.”
The Viera senior also touched on something else, something close observers of the Hawks over the past six years have heard come from legendary former players like Mak Carter and Sydney Williams.
When it comes right down to the nitty gritty, it’s a matter of believing not just in yourself, but in your teammates.
“I think it came down to which team could trust each other more,” Brown wrote. “We love playing together so much and we all trust each other to get the job done, even in tight moments.
“I think that trust is what got us there in the end.”
Now the Hawks must prepare for another challenge against Gateway, which doesn’t have the height Osceola did, but will present a tremendous challenge nonetheless.
It should be noted that two of Gateway’s three losses came to Osceola (the other was to St. Cloud), but as they say, styles make fights. Who knows how this one will play out.
What you can count on is that the Hawks will be in the match every step of the way.
“We are so excited to compete, and we all have a renewed determination to make it to state.” Brown wrote.