There were plenty of talented volleyball players on display at the third annual “The Prep Zone All-Star Showcase” on Tuesday night at Legacy Park Multipurpose Center in Alachua.

The North team, consisting of seniors from Branford, Santa Fe (Alachua), Columbia (Lake City), Lafayette (Mayo), and Fort White, went undefeated to win the event.

“So, this is the third time, I was 0-2, so nice to finally get one,” Santa Fe coach Eric Marshall said with a laugh. “But I just think it’s cool for the kids because they think they don’t get to play high school volleyball anymore, and then they get to play one more match with a little bit of pressure, but not obviously the pressure that they’re used to, so it’s a lot of fun…I think this is awesome for the seniors who get to do this.”

The North defeated the South, all Marion County schools, 25-9, 25-21, in the championship game.

All players wore their school jersey during the games.

“It’s super cool,” said Marshall’s daughter, Gracyn, who has signed with the University of West Florida. “I love being back in this jersey. I haven’t gotten to play a lot against a lot of these girls, so it’s really cool to be able to play against them.”

Marshall (S/L) was one of three Santa Fe players on the North team, along with Brooke Findley (OH/MB/DS) and Georgia Southern signee Delaney Wingenbach (OH).

“I was so glad I was invited to this,” Wingenbach said. “It’s one last chance to play with my teammates, and there’s other girls that I play club with, but I’m not playing club this year, so it was bittersweet because this is my last time playing with all of them. I was happy that I was able to do that again.”

Branford, which won the FHSAA Rural state championship earlier this month, its first state championship in program history, was represented by Mylie Fernandez (S/MB) and Adriauna Combs (OH/MB). Buccaneers first-year head coach Lachelle Sikes was an assistant coach along with Marshall and Santa Fe’s Reagan Atkins.

The South defeated the East, 25-22, 29-27, in the semifinals to advance to the championship game. Four girls from Forest (Ocala) participated, along with Dunnellon, North Marion (Citra), Vanguard (Ocala), and West Port (Ocala).

“Great time,” said Forest head coach Jimmy Collins. “What I love about this tournament is getting to coach girls from other schools, and it’s neat, we’re all public schools. Every one of our girls, public school players, same conference in Marion County, so just a great experience for me and (assistant) Angel Rivera to be able to coach in this event.”

The East bounced back from the loss to the South in the semifinals with an 18-25, 25-16, 15-12 win against the West, which was coached by Ruben Perez and assistant Darrel Card of The Rock School in Gainesville.

“It’s really an awesome thing for the seniors to do, and it’s so nice to watch the girls that play against each other all season really come together and have a good time,” said Union County coach Tifani Knox, who assisted Gainesville High coach Jerica Carter-Mitchell on the East team. “So, it means a lot to them.”

Four players for Rural state semifinalist Williston, Buchholz, Bell, Newberry, Saint Francis Catholic and The Rock competed for the West, which lost to the North, 25-11, 25-12, in the semifinals.

The East was made up of players from Oak Hall, Gainesville High, Dixie County (Cross City), Chiefland, and Union County (Lake Butler).

“Yeah, it was amazing,” said Gainesville OPP/DS Rowan Kage, a University of West Florida signee. “I was so sad it ended. I’m glad I got to do it one more time, and I’m glad my coach was here with me, too. It felt special. It felt like we were back in that gym together. So, yeah, it was good. I had lots of fun.”

Win or lose, it was a great time had by all.

“I think I was a really cool event,” Carter-Mitchell said. “For most of them, it was their first time seeing each other, first time playing with each other for sure, so I think that was really fun. The main thing was just to have fun. Winning is great, but just have fun. It’s your last time wearing your jersey, so it was really good.”

Two years ago, the South defeated the West in the championship game, but last year the West defeated the North.

2025 All-Star teams

NORTH

# Player Position School

1 Brooke Lamb OH/DS/L, Lafayette (Mayo)

2 Mylie Fernandez S/MB, Branford

3 Bella Lester L/DS, Columbia (Lake City)

4 Adriauna Combs OH/MB, Branford

4 Brooke Findley OH/MB/DS, Santa Fe (Alachua)

6 Delaney Wingenbach OH, Santa Fe (Alachua)

6 Sinei Wood OH, Columbia (Lake City)

11 Ella McAdams L, Lafayette (Mayo)

13 Gracyn Marshall S/L, Santa Fe (Alachua)

15 Mallory Blue MB/OH, Branford

17 Kearra Carpenter MH/DS, Fort White

Coaches: Lachelle Sikes (Branford) and Eric Marshall & Reagan Atkins (Santa Fe)

EAST

# Player Position School

2 Lizzie Cannon OH/RS, Oak Hall School (Gainesville)

4 Rowan Kage OPP/DS, GHS

6 Jaicee Brown L, Dixie County (Cross City)

6 Bella Johns L, Union County (Lake Butler)

7 Abigail Williams S, Union County (Lake Butler)

11 Averleigh McFarland RS/S, Dixie County (Cross City)

12 Anna Jane Meeks MB/OH/RS, Chiefland

13 Jailyn Simmons MB/OPP, Union County (Lake Butler)

25 Indi Knox OH, Union County (Lake Butler)

Coaches: Jerica Carter-Mitchell (Gainesville) and Tifani Knox (Union County)

WEST

# Player Position School

1 Alayna Harvey OH/DS, Bell

2 Berkley Brooks OH/DS, Williston

2 Addie Sixbey RS/OH, Buchholz

7 Meadow Moses OH/DS/S, Newberry

7 Madison Perkins OH/DS, Williston

9 Kai Gowland MH, Williston

12 Amelia Whitehurst L, Williston

17 Brianna Stevens MB/OPP, The Rock School (Gainesville)

22 Morgan Ritten S, Saint Francis Catholic Academy (Gainesville)

23 Alexis Rhoden OPP/Middle, The Rock School (Gainesville)

Coaches: Ruben Perez and Darrel Card (The Rock)

SOUTH

# Player Position School

1 Joslynn Galvan OH/Middle, West Port (Ocala)

2 Jacelyn Carson OH/OPP, North Marion (Citra)

5 Karelis Molina-Campos OH, West Port (Ocala)

6 Kyndall Seek OH, Forest (Ocala)

8 Mae Owen S/OPP, Forest (Ocala)

9 Mya Rivera S, Forest (Ocala)

10 Ava Robinson MB, Forest (Ocala)

10 Adelaide Young RS/Middle, Vanguard (Ocala)

13 Keylimar Mejias L/DS, West Port (Ocala)

25 Savannah Esmay MB/OH, Vanguard (Ocala)

34 Myah Roof OH/MB, Dunnellon

Coaches: Jimmy Collins and Angel Rivera (Forest)