Venice High School's volleyball team is headed back to the state semifinals after sweeping Jupiter 3-0 on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

The Indians won the 6A-3 Regional Final at home in straight sets, 25-21, 25-21, 25-17, according to the Herald-Tribune. It is Venice's first trip to the state semifinals since the six-time state champions won it all in 2022. It is also the first semifinal berth under head coach Jay Lanham, who took over in 2024 after serving as an assistant since 2006.

Junior outside hitter Beckett Hammers led the way with 17 kills and 18 digs. Junior Ana Julia Villamajor added 12 kills and 20 digs. Sophomore Kinsey Judge contributed six kills, six digs and two aces. Senior setter Amelia Anselmi recorded 12 digs and two kills, the Herald-Tribune reported.

Venice jumped ahead early in the first set, building a 14-5 lead before Jupiter called timeout. Jupiter clawed back to within 23-20, but kills from Villamajor and junior Kendall Balon helped the Indians close out the set.

The second set was tighter. Jupiter held a 9-7 lead before Venice rattled off seven straight points with senior Grace Svetkovich serving. Jupiter again fought back to 21-19, and Lanham called his only timeout of the match. The move worked. Kills from Villamajor and Hammers sealed the second set for Venice.

Venice trailed 6-2 early in the third set. Hammers then recorded five kills in eight rallies to tie it at eight. An eight-point Venice run with Judge serving, during which she had two aces and a kill, blew the set open. Hammers recorded the final kill to end the match.

Anselmi slapped the ground as Venice players swarmed the court. The student section grabbed brooms from a storage closet to celebrate the sweep.

Hammers, who moved to Venice from North Carolina, has deep family ties to the program. Her grandfather, Larry Sandburg, was a longtime coach and athletic director at Venice, and her mother, Brook Hammers, played on the 1994 Venice volleyball team that won the program's first district title, according to WWSB.

Venice (22-8) will face Horizon of Winter Garden (25-3) in the Class 6A state semifinal at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at Polk State College's Winter Haven Health Center, according to the FHSAA. Horizon won the 6A Region 2 title by sweeping Winter Haven 3-0, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

The other 6A semifinal pits Doral Academy against DeLand at 1 p.m. The 6A championship is set for Nov. 7 at 4 p.m. Tickets are available through GoFan at $14 in advance or $17 on the day of the event, with parking included.