Winter Park’s Amelia Mancino is listed at 5-foot-10 — and that might be giving her an inch. But even though she couldn’t look eye to eye at the net against taller opponents, Mancino reached the highest plateau in Florida high school girls volleyball in the 2025-26 school year.
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The stellar senior was voted Florida Dairy Farmers player of the year after leading the Wildcats to a 31-1 season and a repeat Class 7A state championship. She racked up 318 kills, 219 digs and tortured opponents with lethal serves (71 aces). And stats don’t tell the whole story of Mancino’s impact for a nationally ranked team that boasted seven players bound for major colleges.
“Amelia is what we call a five-tool player,” said 26-year Winter Park head coach Stephanie Gibson. “Her passing is phenomenal. Wicked serves. Offense is incredible. She makes the right reads and puts herself in perfect position defensively. She’s a complete player.”
And she is the Orlando Sentinel player of the year.
Mancino also earned a spot in the WPHS Hall of Fame as the Wildcats female Athlete of the Year.
Gibson, who was named Florida Dairy Farmers coach of the year, said Mancino’s determination and effort was unmatched. She would jump into boys practices whenever she could as a means to constantly improve.
“Her competitive drive has to be her greatest asset. I’ve never met a human being that does more to make herself the best she can be. And she wants to win every point, whether it’s a practice or a game.”
She signed with Appalachian State and will take her thirst for improvement to Boone, North Carolina.
“I just want to keep getting better. I want to be the best I can be,” Mancino said. “I’m on the shorter side for college volleyball. I know that. But that doesn’t stop me. It really makes me want to prove I’m just as good as a player who’s 6-3. I definitely think I can do that at App State.”
Winter Park repeats as 7A girls volleyball state champion
Mancino’s career totals were 914 kills, 178 aces and 714 digs as a three-year varsity starter for a team that went 88-4 in those three seasons. The Wildcats finished 28-1 in their 28-1 state title season of 2024 — with Mancino leading in kills with 309 — and were 29-3 as a state runner-up in 2023.
Winter Park graduates Paige Lehman (Arizona State) and Isabel Bertelesen (Oregon State) are already on their college campus as early graduates. The other Wildcats signees were Sophia Stallworth (Miami of Ohio) and Amber McClain, who joins Mancino at App State. Rising seniors Isabella Incinelli (Texas A&M) and Jordyn Lehman (N.C. State) have committed to colleges.
“It’s more D1 players than I’ve ever had,” Gibson noted.
Winter Park toasts volleyball player/coach of the year | Varsity Weekly
All-Area players
Natasha Casey, Lake Howell, Sr.
The 6-foot-1 UCF signee led the area with 542 kills on 50.7% hitting. Picked to AVCA All-America third team.
Ellie Enger, Orangewood Christian, Fr.
Elite prospect had 303 kills, 343 assists for state runners-up before she was called to play for USA U19 national team.
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Isabel Incinelli, Winter Park, Jr.
Big hitter at 6-5 led state champs with 384 kills on 53% hitting. Also 207 digs, 45 aces, 43 blocks. Texas A&M commit.
Kennedy Langmo, Orangewood, Jr.
Furman commit had team-leading 312 kills and 227 digs for 26-5 team that reached the Class 2A final four.
Paige Lehman, Winter Park, Sr.
Led state champs in assists with 958 as setter. Second in digs with 243. Will play Libero position at Arizona State.
Elle Mottola, Boone, Sr.
Led Braves with 313 kills, 210 digs, 44 aces but heads to Arizona State as a high ranked 5-11 setter for next level.
Jenness Orcutt, Hagerty, Sr.
School record for career kills (932) as a four-year starter. Had 218 kills as senior for region runner-up team. Air Force commit.
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Cate Palmi, Kissimmee Osceola, Sr.
Smacked 478 kills to finish four-year career with area record 2,021. Also 76 aces, 283 digs as a senior. USF signee.
Delaney Sloane, Oviedo, Jr.
Ran 5-1 fast-tempo offense with 948 assists as setter for the Lions (25-6). Also led in ace serves with 71.
Isa Umpierre, Lake Highland Prep, Sr.
UC Davis commit had 307 kills, 61 aces, 275 digs for 3A state runner-ups. AVCA All-American third team.
Sentinel Standouts
London Adkins, Lake Brantley, Sr.
Isabel Bertelsen, Winter Park, Sr.
Andie Bowron, Lake Brantley, Jr.
Taylor Fonseca, DeLand, Sr.
Kamila Griffin, Innovation, Sr.
Olivia Heekin, Bishop Moore, Sr.
Haley Higgins, Foundation Academy, Jr.
Alex Kennedy, Lake Highland Prep, Jr.
Ava Lazar, Lake Brantley, Soph.
Amber McClain, Winter Park, Sr.
Mikayla “KK” Miessler, Hagerty, Sr.
Stefany Ortiz, Horizon, Sr.
Isabella Parra, Montverde Academy, Sr.
Eliza Perdue, Olympia Sr.
Jordon Southall, Osceola, Sr.
Sophia Stallworth, Winter Park, Sr.
Avery Stephens, Oviedo, Sr.
Victoria Stoltzfus, DeLand, Sr.
Soraya Teston, East River, Sr.
Madison Wehr, Olympia, Sr.
Keylee Winkler, Bishop Moore, Fr.
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Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at [email protected].
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