The Gainesville and Santa Fe (Alachua) volleyball teams won district titles this past season and advanced to the FHSAA state playoffs in their respective classifications.

They led the way with nine of the 14 selections on the 2024 Bosshardt Realty All Area teams for big schools (4A-6A).

In her first season as head coach, Gainesville’s Jerica Carter-Mitchell led the Hurricanes (15-9) to a second straight district title and a No. 1 seed in the Class 6A-Region 2 state playoffs, which ended in the first round against South Fork (Stuart).

Senior middle blocker Nicole Ellis was one of three GHS players to make the first team. The North Carolina A&T signee, who had 150 kills and 100 blocks, played a vital role in GHS having a presence at the net.

“Her blocking is intimidating and netting 100 blocks in a season is unprecedented,” Carter-Mitchell said. “Nicole was a strong but quiet leader, and the entire team adored her. Our freshmen standouts learned a lot from her leadership, skills, and level of play. NC A&T is lucky to have her, and I am looking forward to watching Nicole play at the next level.”

Rowan Kage (RS/OPP) joined Ellis on the first team after posting had a team-high 179 kills.

“She was a presence in the front row and in the back row,” Carter-Mitchell said. “She also dabbled at setting as part of our 6-2 for the majority of the season. With every adjustment that we made this season, Rowan handled it with poise and executed our strategies without hesitation. She trusted that her coaches were trying to put the team in a position to win.”

The junior also added 150 digs, 165 assists, 37 blocks and 33 aces.

“Rowan was a threat every time that she hit the ball and tallied the most kills on the team,” Carter-Mitchell said. “Being a strong hitter and a crafty lefty was GHS’ advantage when playing in high-pressure games. I am looking forward to coaching Rowan in her senior season next year and she will play an even bigger role.”

The third GHS member on the first team is libero Addyson Hauptman, who led the ‘Canes with 229 digs. Her serve-receive was also a very dependable 2.05 rating on 316 attempts.

“Addy played to win every time that she stepped onto the court,” Carter-Mitchell said. “She played with heart and her love for the game of volleyball was undeniable. Although we had some amazing blockers in the front row, the team could block confidently knowing that Addy would dig any balls that they didn’t get. I am excited to coach Addy for her senior season next year.”

Senior outside hitter Gia McGrew helped lead Santa Fe (20-8) to the 4A-District 5 championship, followed by a first-round playoff win against Satellite (Satellite Beach), before falling at Merritt Island in the regional semifinals.

The University of Iowa signee finished with 322 kills for an average of 3.8 kills per set.

“The way she hits the ball, most volleyball people describe it as a heavy ball,” said Santa Fe head coach Eric Marshall. “A heavy ball is very difficult to dig because of the way it comes off her hand, the speed, the velocity, it’s a violent swing. It’s really hard to defend.”

Teammate Gracyn Marshall joined her on the first team. The West Florida commit led the Raiders with 475 assists and 44 aces. The junior was also third on the team with 191 digs. 

“Gracyn is one of the hardest working players I’ve ever coached and has an extremely high volleyball IQ,” Marshall said. “Those two things will do her extremely well in college.”

Junior outside hitter Sinei Wood of Columbia (Lake City) and senior middle blocker Samiyah Daniels of Eastside also made the first team.

Wood, who has been on the varsity since her freshman season, had 223 kills, 326 digs, and 31 aces for the Tigers (14-9), who lost to Leon (Tallahassee) in the 5A-District 2 Semifinals.

“I always said as a freshman coming in, she played beyond her years because she’s just a dynamic 6-rotational player who has played middle for us and Gainesville Juniors (club), and this year we moved her to outside and she’s awesome,” said Columbia coach Trudy Andrews. “She’s a huge leader for us and an amazing role model, the girls look up to her, and she is able to push the girls in a way to challenge them to be the best player that they can be as well.”

Daniels led Eastside (11-13) with 190 kills and 105 blocks. She added 46 digs and 38 aces.

“She’s fierce at the net but a sweetheart to the players, an awesome team player and leader,” said Eastside coach Rachel Williams, whose team lost to Crystal River in the 4A-District 5 Semifinals.

Junior outside hitter Brooke Findley was one of three Santa Fe players to make the second team.

She finished second behind McGrew with 236 kills and added 220 digs and 29 aces.

“Brooke had a very heavy load as a six-rotation player this year and did an incredible job of improving on front row and back row every week,” Marshall said. “She will be a force next year on the outside.”

Junior middle blocker Delaney Wingenbach joined the trio on the second team. The Georgia Southern commit finished with 178 kills, 220 digs and 30 blocks.

“So, she had to move positions this year, as she is an outside hitter,” Marshall said. “How successful she was in the middle shows you how talented she is. Can’t wait to watch her on the outside next year.”

The third Raider on the second team is libero Karlee Noah.

“She’s a very solid player at the libero position who is getting better every year she plays it,” Marshall said.

Sophomore outside hitter Jordyn Chandler earned second team honors after leading Suwannee (Live Oak) to the 4A-District 2 title with 22 kills in the championship game.

She finished the season with 247 kills, 257 digs and 72 aces for the 16-8 Bulldogs, who lost to eventual state semifinalist Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) in the Class 4A-Region 1 Quarterfinals.

Carter-Mitchell’s daughter, Jacey, made the second team as a middle blocker. The freshman had 123 kills, tallied the highest hitting percentage on the team (.329), and also had the second-most blocks with 54.

“Jacey has a heavy and quick arm swing that made her tough to defend,” Jerica Carter-Mitchell said. “She learned a lot thanks to the leadership of our senior MB Nicole Ellis. GHS is blessed to have Jacey for three more years. Her future is bright and so is GHS’.”

Senior Kayla Goodloe of Columbia, who made the second team as a RS/Opp, is a Rollins College signee.

Goodloe, who didn’t start playing volleyball until her junior year, finished second behind Wood with 191 kills and was second with 42 blocks. She added 94 digs and 34 aces.

“She’s a fun player to be around, her smile is infectious,” Andrews said. “She came in brand new to the program last year, and just learning the game basically, and was like a sponge. She just wanted to get better and learn the game quickly. She’s been dominating for us on the right side.”

Rounding out the second team was Buchholz setter Julia Almond. The freshman led the Bobcats (10-13) with 550 assists and 59 aces. She was fourth on the team with 156 digs.

2024 Bosshardt Realty Big School All Area Volleyball Teams

4A-6A – 1st Team

OH – Gia McGrew, Santa Fe (SR)

OH – Sinei Wood, Columbia (JR)

MB – Nicole Ellis, GHS (SR)

MB – Samiyah Daniels, Eastside (SR)

RS/Opp – Rowan Kage, GHS (JR)

Setter – Gracyn Marshall, Santa Fe (JR)

Libero – Addyson Hauptman, GHS (JR)

4A-6A – 2nd team

OH – Brooke Findley, Santa Fe (JR)

OH – Jordyn Chandler, Suwannee (SO)

MB – Delaney Wingenbach, Santa Fe (JR)

MB – Jacey Carter-Mitchell, GHS (FR)

RS/Opp – Kayla Goodloe, Columbia (SR)

Setter – Julia Almond, Buchholz (FR)

Libero – Karlee Noah, Santa Fe (SO)

Honorable mention 

Buchholz – Rosy Logan (SR), Aaliyah Ray (FR), Aubrey Waters (FR) 

Columbia (Lake City) – Cassidy O’Neal (SR), Avery Sandlin (SR), Mylie Fernandez (JR)

Eastside – Joanna Williams (SR), Kieara Hall (SR) 

Gainesville – Charlotte Judge (SO), Jorryn Dye (FR) 

Santa Fe (Alachua) – Alexis Rhoden (JR), Morgan Lawson (JR)

Suwannee (Live Oak) – Avery Music (JR), Maci Hingson (JR), Paula Golub (JR), Kaleah Tucker (SO)