In the spring of 2022, Ryan Peluso, Ketcher Stewart and Andrew Webb teamed up to win it all when the Winter Park’s boys volleyball team beat Metro Conference rival Freedom in five sets to bring home an FHSAA state title.
Now their younger sisters, Tyler Peluso, Fallon Stewart and Sarah Webb, want to do the same thing. They are members of a Wildcats girls volleyball team (28-2) that takes a 21-match winning streak into a Class 7A state semifinal against Jupiter (25-3) on Friday at 4 p.m. at Polk State College in Winter Haven.
“We wanted to carry on the legacy after seeing our brothers seal the deal in the state championship,” Fallon said. “Coming into this season, we had a goal in mind and that is to get better every single day. Going into the state semifinals, we’re very excited to continue the legacy of our brothers.”
Ryan now plays collegiately at Long Beach State, while Ketcher plays at Purdue Fort Wayne. Andrew plays club volleyball at UCF.
Tyler, a junior setter, and Fallon, a senior outside hitter who signed with Cincinnati on Wednesday, were there to witness the euphoric championship feeling when their brothers hoisted the trophy after they won the state final at Archbishop McCarthy High School in Broward County.
Winter Park dethrones Freedom for 1st boys volleyball state title
Sarah, a senior outside hitter, was playing with her club team at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach and was living and dying with text updates after each point. Next to her seeing the play-by-play was club teammate Francceska Monsalve, who had a brother on the Freedom team.
After Sarah found out Winter Park won, she didn’t hesitate to brag about her brother’s accomplishment.
“I kind of shoved it in [Francceska’s] face,” Sarah said. “I was just really happy. I was around a lot of people that were rooting for my brother and his team.”
Sarah’s sister, Katherine Webb, also played for Winter Park as a 2018 graduate.
The brothers played a pivotal role as role models in the development of their sisters’ talent.
“If we have two state championships, that would be amazing for our family,” Tyler said. “We’re a really big volleyball family so it would be really exciting for us.”
Her father, Roger, has coached the sport for 35 years after playing for Long Island University. He was an assistant for Winter Park’s boys title team and is now on staff for George Mason University (Fairfax, Va.) which start its season next week. He will be able to see Winter Park’s bid for the girls championship before he files out Sunday morning to join George Mason for a preseason tournament in Chicago.
Wildcats coach Stephanie Gibson said having state title brothers helps.
“Anytime you get to experience the pressure moments that other people are going through, it’s an experience they can carry into their own volleyball world,” she said.
The Wildcats faced immense pressure with their winning streak and state championship hopes on the line in two dramatic five-set playoff matches against rival Timber Creek. After edging the Wolves 3-2 in a district final Winter Park lost the first two games in a region final rematch before pulling out a 20-25, 26-28, 25-14, 25-22, 15-9 victory.
“This team has the most heart I’ve ever seen,” Fallon said. “We want it and we’re ready to go after it.”
Stewart joined East Ridge senior Nayelis Cabello as first teamers on the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America list announced this week. Cabello signed with Louisville.
If the Wildcats, ranked No. 2 in 7A, advance they will face either top-ranked Tampa Plant (23-3) or Doral Academy (23-7) of Miami-Dade in Saturday’s 7 p.m. state championship match.
Bishop Moore (22-8) plays Bishop Kenny (23-7) of Jacksonville in a 4A semifinal on Friday at 10 a.m. That winner advances to a Saturday 3 p.m. final vs. either top-ranked Miami Gulliver Prep (27-3) or Tampa’s Academy of the Holy Names (18-11).
Admission price is $9 for state tournament matches.
Varsity Content Editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
