Can Montverde volleyball finally get over the hump? Veterans think so

An experienced Montverde Academy volleyball team is aiming to make a breakthrough this season, according to coach Jola Graham. “With that many seniors, they’re hungry to get that banner,” Graham said. The Eagles posted a 19-6 record, claimed a district title, and advanced to the regional championship for a second consecutive year in 2025.

However, both of their regional title losses were against Lake Highland Prep, who went on to win the Class 3A state championship in 2024 and was the state runner-up in the previous season.

Montverde returns the majority of their key contributors from the previous year. Eight of the team's top nine attackers in 2025 were underclassmen, including Suhmer Henriques and her twin sisters, Natalia and Bianca Baquerizo. Henriques, a 5-foot-10 senior, started as a middle blocker but has been transitioning to outside hitter. She recorded 49 kills and 25 blocks last season. Graham noted that Henriques has been dominating on the outside hitter position, impressing with her technical skills and overall game IQ.

The Baquerizo sisters led the Eagles in kills last season, with Bianca amassing 215 and Natalia contributing 207. Natalia also added 170 digs and 276 serve receptions, while Bianca is working her way back from an offseason injury. Graham expressed excitement about Natalia's return, praising her continued development on every hit and her dedication to improving her passes.

Other key returnees include junior Gabriela Carvahlo, who posted 167 kills and 58 blocks, and senior Kristina Vargas, who contributed 354 assists. Overall, this is an experienced team with much to be optimistic about. "The excitement is that we have such a huge returning group," Graham stated. "Technically, all of our players are returning from last year. It's going to be a big senior class. This year compared to last year, last year we had four seniors graduate. This year, we have eight of them. They're amazing ladies."