WINTER HAVEN — Since taking over the Winter Haven volleyball program, Dylan Sechrest’s goal has been to build the Blue Devils into a state power. He has gotten the Blue Devils to the second round of the playoffs, but they haven’t been able to get over the hump.
After being upset in the first round last year, Winter Haven returned to the second round playing Venice, the team that eliminated Winter Haven from the playoffs in straight sets. This time Winter Haven played host, but the result was the same.
Winter Haven was more competitive but Venice prevailed again, 25-18, 20-25, 25-17, 25-20, on Saturday afternoon in the Class 7A, Region 3 semifinals at the Jack Deedrick Gymnasium.
In 2022, Winter Haven never won more than 18 points in a set.
“It was definitely a big progress,” junior middle hitter Erin Drier said. “I mean, we’ve had one of the best seasons ever in Winter Haven volleyball history and it really just shows how much effort we’ve put outside just like every day on the court, every day at practice. We’ve always relied on each other, which, is good.”