On to Regionals!

Marco Island Academy head coach Alyssa Stolinas hopes she was seeing the future when her Rays tangled with reigning state champion Seacrest Country Day in a district semi-final on Tuesday, October 18. In the ultimate measuring stick game for MIA, the result was as expected. Seacrest defended their home court with ease, 25-9, 25-12, 25-12. 

But the good news for the Rays came Saturday night when they received an at-large invitation to the regional tournament. The Rays, 16-4, finished strong, winning five of their last six games.

Legendary Seacrest head coach Jan Class has led the East Naples school to two state championships and two runner’s-up finishes in the past nine years. Class likes what he sees in the scrappy Rays team.

"They are a young team,” Jan Class said, “but I believe they are very talented. I know all the teams. All of them play at my volleyball club, Gulfside Volleyball. Even Alyssa Stolinas coaches for us. It’s a great group of girls. They are a very good team with a very good coach."

Stolinas has led MIA to five straight Paradise Coast Athletic Conference titles. This year’s team starts four freshmen, with only one senior starter in Virginia Lowe. The only other upperclassman in the starting lineup is Jenna Ragan, a talented junior who plays the libero position.

The four freshmen are Medney Garraux, Jayden Ragan, Rylee Howard and Madison, the coach’s niece and team captain.

“They never quit,” Class said of the young Rays, “they were fighting for every point. I believe they have a lot of talent and a great future as a program.”

Stolinas is excited about her team’s entry into the regional tournament.

"We got in as the sixth seed,” Stolinas said. "We could have been a seven or eight seed - then we would have to play a one or two seed. We’re playing Indian Rocks Christian. They’re another at-large team, so they didn’t win their district. We've been watching some film. It should be a good game."

Stolinas credits her team’s strong finish as the reason they received the at-large bid.

"Our last week before districts helped us,” Stolinas said. "We beat Immokalee, Golden Gate, Donahue and Village School. Then we played Southwest Florida Christian and beat them in three. We won five in a row.”

Just how dominant were the Rays in that five-game stretch? Well they only dropped one set, to Village School in the PCAC finals.

“I’m thinking that’s what’s helped us move forward,” Stolinas said. “We’ll be taking a bus there Tuesday. If we win, we will play the winner of Keswick Christian and Sports Leadership and Management. We wouldn’t see Seacrest or St. John Neumann until the regional finals.”

Though they were pushed around by the talented Stingrays, the MIA squad relished the opportunity. They want to be like Seacrest someday.

“We don’t see talent as much as we should,” Stolinas said, “so when we play teams like Seacrest the girls are excited. That’s the future, that’s the dream for them. With Seacrest losing five seniors, four starters, they have hope. They know that goal is more attainable. Especially for the freshmen, it really opens their eyes. They realize this could be us."

So are the players excited to be heading to regionals?

“Yes,” Stolinas said, “but right now I think they’re more excited about the bus ride.”

The Rays will travel to face Indian Rocks, in Largo, Florida, on Tuesday, October 25th.