It wasn’t easy for the defending state champs, but Lake Highland Prep survived a close match for a 25-22, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23 win over Pine Crest of Fort Lauderdale in Monday morning’s Class 3A volleyball state semifinals at Polk State College in Winter Haven.

Neither team led by more than five points throughout the whole match, so the pressure was ratcheted up a few notches.

“It was a very back-and-forth match,” Highlanders’ coach Katie Gallagher said. “I think winning the state title last year means (the girls) have more confidence because they’ve been here before.

“But that also comes with pressure. They fought all the way through the match and stayed composed.”

Gallagher attributed some of the closeness of the match to serving.

“We had a little too many service errors, but (Pine C

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