For the first time since 2004, the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders are the top team in Class 7A defeating the Winter Springs Bears 3-1 on Saturday at the Silver Spurs Arena. The Bears took the first set 25-20 riding the arm of junior outside hitter Payton Caffrey, who led all hitters with 26 kills on the night. The Raiders battled back and took the next three sets to win their third state title in school history, 3-1.
Winter Springs looked to be in control in the second set, leading 21-15, when a call was reversed and the point was awarded to St. Thomas Aquinas. The Raiders then went on a 10-1 run to win the set 25-22 and never looked back. Senior outside hitter and Pepperdine signee, Nikki Lyons led the Raiders with 24 kills, while sophomore Brook Bauer chipped in 14 kills on the night. St. Thomas Aquinas finishes the year 28-4.
Juniors Bailey Johnson and Rebekah Bollinger added seven and five kills respectively as the Bears ended their best season in school history with a 28-4 record.