Diane Langmo, head coach of the national No. 4 Orangewood Christian volleyball team, has warned her girls that every team they play is “trying to knock you off.”
And both previously-unbeaten DeLand and perennial power Tampa Plant had the Rams on the edge of defeat in Saturday’s marquee matches in the inaugural Sunshine State Invitational at Oviedo High School. The Rams refused to fold. They dealt DeLand its first loss in a hard-fought semifinal and then escaped Plant in the championship match.
Orangewood’s sophomore star, Ellie Enger, said those wins show her team can handle the pressure that comes from being No. 1 in the Orlando area and fourth in MaxPreps’ U.S. rankings.
“We trust each other and we just stay who we are in the close games,” she said. “We want to show the nation who Orangewood volleyball is.”
The 5-0 performance in the 16-team Sunshine tournament followed the Rams’ 5-2 showing in the prestigious Durango Classic in Las Vegas last weekend. Orangewood (19-2) lost to No. 2 Sierra Canyon of California and No. 3 Cornerstone Charter of Texas.
The Rams have not lost to a Florida team and kept that streak alive by squeaking past Plant by scores of 30-28 and 25-22 in the final. The Panthers had the lead for most of the first set and had a match point opportunity at 26-25 before Engel made clutch plays that finished the first game.
Plant led 18-16 and 20-19 in game two before Orangewood again rallied — including three consecutive aces by senior hitter Isabel Incinelli and a sprawling save by junior Olivia Sosa to keep a key point alive.
Against DeLand (20-2), the Rams won a highly competitive first set 25-23 and then saw the Bulldogs seize control in a 25-17 second game win. The third game, shortened for tournament play, was a totally different story. Orangewood scored the first two points and never trailed in a 15-7 win.
“We came out swinging in the third set,” said Engel, who earned the Most Valuable Player honor. She totaled 36 kills, 32 assists and four blocks for the two-day tournament.
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Incinelli, a 6-foot-5 Texas A&M commit, was an all-tournament pick with 53 kills, five blocks and five ace serves; as was Orangewood senior Kaleigh Langmo, who totaled 36 kills and seven aces. Her twin sister, Kennedy Langmo, had 21 kills and four blocks; and senior setter Avery Herman delivered 52 assists.
Coach Langmo said 6-2 senior Peyton Mauldin (14 kills, three blocks) played a key role in the middle against Plant’s big hitters.
Orangewood was rewarded with a championship trophy and banner for its school, plus medals and Sunshine State Invitational shirts for its players. Langmo said they had to work for the prizes.
“It’s not like these aren’t really good teams,” she said as her team posed for pictures.
DeLand, a team relying heavily on talented youngsters, also went to three games against Alabama’s No. 1 team, McGill-Toolen (31-2), before losing a 20-25, 25-20, 15-10 third-place match.
The Bulldogs’ sensational sophomore setter, Kohen Cazmierczak (106 assists), earned all-tourney honors as did Winter Park junior Ellie Rodriguez. Cazmierczak had 30 assists against Orangewood — feeding sophomore Emerson Lalashuis (12 kills) and juniors Leni Young (10 kills) and Eden Knapp (eight kills).
“This was a great tournament,” said DeLand coach Rhea Simon. “Every team we played was high level and my girls competed all the way through.”
MaxPreps’ schedule list says Orangewood is going to DeLand for a rematch Tuesday. But both coaches said there is a chance that match will be played at Orangewood.
Winter Park (12-5) went 4-1 and finished fifth. Wildcats coach Stephanie Gibson praised Oviedo coach Jen Darty for launching the event.
“Jen Darty did an incredible job,” Gibson said. “She’s paid attention to all the details. I really think this is going to grow.”
Oviedo (16-3) went 3-2 with losses to McGill-Toolen and Winter Park to finish ninth.
Olympia (11-8) went 2-3 and Lake Brantley (7-7) was 1-4.
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Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.