The Venice High Indians, the top-ranked team in the Herald-Tribune’s Super 7, are the only local team headed to the state championships in Lakeland, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go a little early — or stay a little late — and sample some of the best high school volleyball that Florida has to offer.

Our chef highly recommends nationally ranked Tampa Berkeley Prep (Class 3A), the state’s top team regardless of class during the regular-season, and Fort Myers (4A), which eliminated Braden River on Saturday. Lake Worth Christian (1A) knocked out Bradenton Christian in last fall’s semifinals and made it back again.

Oh … and don’t forget Stuart Martin County (5A), conquerors of Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas in the only five-gamer of Saturday’s 24 regional finals. The Tigers (29-1) are the likely title-match opponent if Venice (22-8) gets past Tallahassee Leon in its Wednesday night semifinal.

Don’t be deceived by the Indians’ eight losses. They took six of them on two Saturdays in the prestigious Berkeley Premier Tournament in Tampa and the ASICS Challenge in Chicago. The other two are to St. Thomas Aquinas and Berkeley Prep (in the USF Sun Dome). Seniors Dorothy Rahal, who has signed with Marshall University, and setter Taylor Capasso (Tampa) combine with junior Autumn Duyn to give Venice three solid all-state candidates.

Anyway, here is the entire menu, so you can decide for yourself. Remember, salad or soup is extra:

VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

(All matches at The Lakeland Center)

Class 6A
Friday
Tampa Plant vs. Miami Ferguson, 2 p.m.
Boca Raton vs. Winter Park, 4 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 5 p.m.

Class 5A
Wednesday
Venice vs. Tallahassee Leon, 6 p.m.
Stuart Martin County vs. Lithia Newsome, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Championship, 7 p.m.

Class 4A
Friday
Fort Myers vs. Jacksonville Bishop Kenny, 6 p.m.
Jensen Beach vs. New Port Richey Hudson, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 2:30 p.m.

Class 3A
Wednesday
Jacksonville Bolles vs. Tampa Berkeley Prep, 2 p.m.
Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna vs. Melbourne Holy Trinity, 4 p.m.
Thursday
Championship, 4:30 p.m.

Class 2A
Friday
Fort Lauderdale Westminster vs. Orlando First Academy, 10 a.m.
Tallahassee Maclay vs. Tampa Prep, noon
Saturday
Championship, noon

Class 1A
Wednesday, Nov. 18
Tallahassee John Paul II vs. Merritt Island Christian, 10 a.m.
South Daytona Warner Christian vs. Lake Worth Christian, noon
Thursday, Nov. 19
Championship, 2 p.m.