PALM BEACH GARDENS – Benjamin’s girls volleyball team has ripped off a six-game winning streak that no one is talking about right now.
Prior to the Bucs six-game win streak things were very inconsistent for them.
The girls would lose one game, then win the next. The longest streak prior was a two-game win streak that came against Calvary Christian Academy and Ransom Everglades.
Benjamin is hitting its stride at the perfect time with the volleyball season winding down and everyone positioning themselves for district and regional play.
The Bucs hold the best overall record in Class 3A-District 7 at 9-4. This feat is more impressive due to the fact that two of the four losses came to powerhouse programs like St. Andrew’s (8-3; 3A-District 8 leader) and Gulliver Prep (14-1; 4A-District 16).
Senior Payton Bryan is an absolute menace in between the lines.
It is almost not fair how Bryan can rise above the net and smack the ball down with precision on opponents. In the most recent matchup, she had 30 kills.
Bryan is in a class of her own on and off the court.
Hoisting the No. 29 spot in the state of Florida for kills with 198 – she also has 94 digs and 28 blocks – Payton is a Yale commit and will be looking to join the Bulldogs volleyball team upon graduation.
A name everyone will be hearing for a while in Palm Beach County is freshman Riley McCaughey.
Last season as an eighth grader, McCaughey tallied a total of 601 assists. She is already on pace to surpass that.
McCaughey is the assist queen for Benjamin, as she has tallied 445 assists this season and ranked No. 9 in the state for assists and No. 1. in Palm Beach County.
Senior Sophia Buller is the leader and captain for Benjamin. She is the glue to the Bucs success and is almost like having a coach on the court with her ability to do it all and direct her teammates.
Buller has 64 kills and second in blocks for Benjamin with 19, right behind freshman Brenna Hasey, who has 28.
“I feel like I definitely bring a lot of energy to the team. Even when I’m not contributing in kills, I make a point to be a positive force on and off the court,” Buller said. “I try to be the loudest from the bench as well as the court. I feel like this positive energy I bring lifts my team up and gets them excited as well.”
Buller would expand on how this year’s team is very unique and has a bond like no other.
“The best thing about this team is definitely our sense of family,” Buller said. “Individually we are all great players, but I feel our sense of family and responsibility towards each other is really why we’re a great team.”
The rising stars for the Bucs are a trio of juniors that lead the defensive effort in digs. They are:
Grace Havlicek – 119 digs
Kori Haggard – 111 digs
Maggie Smith – 94 Digs
Head Coach Alex Clarke is in her 15th year as Benjamin’s volleyball coach. She makes sure her girls are competitive and battle tested year in and year out.
“Volleyball teams are so strong nowadays that there’s no real weak points on our schedule anymore,” Clarke said. “This is a big feat, especially considering how we started our season 3-4.”
Benjamin is gelling and becoming more comfortable on the court with one another at the right time with the regular season coming to an end in two weeks.
Benjamin will look to extend its winning streak to seven in its next matchup at St. John Paul II (6-12). This game will happen tonight (Oct. 4; 6 p.m. start time) in Boca Raton.
