The 2025 high school volleyball season gets underway next Monday as public schools in most of North Central Florida returned this week. But first, eight local teams battled it out for pride and a trophy at the second annual Crafty Gemini Preseason Showcase at Legacy Park Multipurpose Center in Alachua.
Santa Fe, which finished 20-8 and advanced to the second round of the 4A playoffs last season, took home a first-place trophy in one of the divisions. The Raiders defeated Buchholz, 2-0, (25-13, 25-14) and then took the championship game over The Rock, 2-1, (25-14, 6-25, 15-11).
Santa Fe lost University of Iowa signee Gia McGrew from last year’s squad, but Raiders coach Eric Marshall once again has high expectations for his team.
“This team is mixed,” Marshall said. “I have seven seniors, two or three juniors, two or three sophomores, and I have three or four freshmen and two of those freshmen start. There’s a little inexperience there, but I’m hoping by the end of the season that won’t be the case.
“Getting through regionals in 4A with Bishop Moore (Orlando) there and Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) is tough. But I think we have the pieces to do it.”
Marshall was proud of his team in the match against The Rock.
“We had 19 errors in the second set; we really had a hard time against their serve,” Marshall said. “We need to replicate that in practice and figure out how to get out of it when we get stuck. But I was proud of the way they bounced back after getting punched in the mouth in the second set.”
Santa Fe opens its regular season on Tuesday at Columbia.
The Rock, which won the National Christian School Athletic Association (NCSAA) championship in 2024, must replace five starters from last year’s team. They beat Forest (Ocala), 2-1, (25-21, 16-25, 15-11) in the opening match.
Buchholz knocked off Forest, 2-1, (18-25, 25-17, 15-10) in that division’s third-place match.
The other division consisted of Union County, Lafayette (Mayo), Newberry and Eastside.
Lafayette took that title by beating Union County, 2-0, (25-22, 25-22) in an extremely competitive match. Union County had beaten Eastside, 2-0, (25-7, 25-15) to advance to the championship, while Lafayette rallied past Newberry, 2-1, (17-25, 25-20, 16-14) in its opening-round matchup.
Despite the loss, Union County coach Tifani Knox enjoyed the Showcase and is ready for the season.
“It’s good to get the girls together after being in different places all summer,” Knox said. “This is a fun night and a way to get some scouting done as well.”
The Tigers, who finished 17-10 and advanced to the Rural Regional Finals last season, have a rematch with Lafayette to open the season on Monday.
Newberry defeated Eastside, 2-0, (25-14, 26-24) in the other third-place match. Newberry coach Hank Rone says this is just a great night for volleyball in the area.
“Coach B (Brandon Wilson) does a great job running this event, and it serves his charities as well,” Rone said. “Crafty Gemini does a fantastic job, and what a great opportunity and beautiful setting here in Alachua.”
