Satellite tops Viera in four sets to reach Cape Coast final

Satellite held off late Viera rallies in each of the final two sets to win 25-18, 20-25, 25-23, 25-23 and set up a title match against Merritt Island.

Satellite defeated visiting Viera 25-18, 20-25, 25-23, 25-23 on Sept. 21 in the Cape Coast Conference Tournament semifinals, winning its ninth straight match to improve to 13-4. The Scorpions will host Merritt Island in the championship match on Sept. 23.

Satellite built big leads in both the third and fourth sets, going up 18-10 and 17-10, but Viera rallied to within a point in each. Sophomore Kenzie Little finished off set three with a kill, and the fourth set ended on a Viera service error. Little led the Scorpions with 10 kills and four blocks that produced points.

Satellite coach Daren Bolton said the team's ball control out of serve receive needs work, but credited his squad for staying composed. Sophomore Harper Lanza added nine kills, senior Lily Ruda served five aces, and juniors Lily Sigety and Macy Ferland chipped in seven and five kills respectively.

Viera fell to 11-5 despite a match-high 18 kills from junior Addi Casey. Junior Emery Hart added a dozen kills. Coach Sarah Wayne pointed to 13 service errors, including the final point of the match, as the difference. The Hawks will host Space Coast in the third-place match on Sept. 23 before traveling to a two-day tournament in Kentucky on Sept. 25-26.

Merritt Island reached the final with a 25-11, 25-15, 25-19 sweep of Space Coast behind 10 kills and seven digs from junior Ema Michell. The Mustangs beat Satellite in four sets on Sept. 1 in the teams' earlier meeting this season.