WINTER HAVEN — The repeat was as easy as 1-2-3. Well, almost.
Lake Howell repeated as the Class 2A boys volleyball state champions on Saturday, sweeping a feisty top-seeded Miami Belen Jesuit group 27-25, 26-24 and 31-29 at the FHSAA finals at Polk State College.
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“We did it again, and it just means we have to three-peat next year,” said Lake Howell coach Scott Leman, who was decked out in a flashy multi-colored suit for the second straight year.
Lake Howell won its first state title in 2025, sweeping Reagan (Doral), also in three-straight sets, but Leman said this year was harder.
“Last year, we had such a strong team, we knew we were going to win. This year, we were just trying to live up to that and knowing we were a different team and that we could do it. They just had to prove it to themselves. And they did tonight.”
The third set posted the biggest challenge. The Silverhawks found themselves trailing 16-21 before battling back to tie the match 23-23 and eventually win a cliffhanger, 31-29.
“We knew we were down a few, and we knew they could come back. We were just playing a little sloppy. Once they started doing their jobs, we got right back on track,” Leman said.
Second seed Lake Howell (27-5) bounced out to a 17-10 lead in the first set but watched the lead slip away and had to battle to pull out the 27-25 win.
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Lake Howell found the sledding a tad tougher in the second set, and was never able to build more than a three-point lead at any point during the match. But the Silverhawks busted open a 24-24 tie and captured the final two points to secure the 26-24 win, and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Lake Howell was led by senior outside hitter Xavier Borgess with 14 kills, six digs and two blocks. Borgess, who was part of last year’s title team, said this one is sweeter.
“Definitely this one because I just feel like it was more earned,” Borgess said. “I have been playing with these guys since my freshman year, and I just feel like they are my brothers. I think we held a steady level of intensity throughout the match. We didn’t have any really high ups or downs, which really helped.”
Additionally, senior outside hitter Jayden Rivera dished out 10 kills, nine digs and three blocks while senior Kason Bardsley added seven kills, two digs and seven blocks. Senior Julian Rogers also was torrid with seven kills, two blocks and one dig.
“This team is more special to me because last year I was on the bench,” Rogers said. “But this year I got to sweat, hurt, play and have tears.”
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