Editor’s Note: This is the first of three stories unveiling the 2024 Bosshardt Realty All Area Volleyball Teams.
For the second year in a row, the Branford Buccaneers played for the state volleyball title. Branford lost in the Rural Classification championship game 25-20, 26-24, 26-24 to Liberty County (Bristol), giving the Bucs their second consecutive state runner-up finish.
The loss in the state title game in Winter Haven ended a 25-match winning streak for the Bucs, who finished 27-4 with their other three losses coming to playoff teams Santa Fe, Lafayette (Mayo) and Oak Hall.
And once again, Branford dominates the 2024 Bosshardt Realty Small School All Area Volleyball Team.
Branford places two players on the first team and three on the second team.
Senior middle blocker Madison Ward and senior setter Andi Sabourin are first-team selections from Branford.
Ward led the Bucs with 237 kills and added 44 blocks this season.
“Madison Ward is a momentum changer,” Branford coach Mendy Sikes said. “She is the voice of the team on the court and a true leader.”
Sabourin led Branford with 833 assists, adding 305 digs and 40 aces.
“Andi (Sabourin) is one of the best all-time setters I have ever seen,” Sikes said.
After a state semifinal appearance in 2023 in 1A, Newberry moved up to 3A and finished 15-11 but just missed the state playoffs after a five-set loss to Palatka in the 3A-5 district tournament semifinals. Despite that, the Panthers match Branford with two first-team selections in senior outside hitter Chloe Jones and senior libero Malana Kennard.
Jones led the Panthers with 222 kills and added 41 aces and 189 digs.
“Chloe had a great senior year,” Newberry coach Hank Rone said. “She had a lot of pressure on her. She had to play back row for our team and front row. She led us in kills but also had some great defensive efforts and served very well for us.”
Kennard led Newberry with 585 digs and added 76 assists and 57 aces.
“Malana is one of the most phenomenal liberos I’ve had at Newberry,” Rone said. “She’s always been in the top 10 and top five in the state in digs. She digs everything up. This will be her third time as a Mainstreet first-team selection.”
Union County just missed a trip to the state semifinals, as they lost at Branford in a five-set thriller in a region final. The 17-10 Tigers are represented on the All Area first team by junior middle blocker Jailyn Simmons.
Simmons led Union County with 325 kills, 57 aces and 96 blocks.
“She [Jailyn] had the most kills on our team,” Union County coach Tifani Knox said. “It was helpful for us to be able to rely on her offense. She was a very strong hitter for our team.”
Dixie County just missed out on the state playoffs after losing to Branford in the district tournament. The Bears (11-13) are represented on the first team by senior outside hitter Kailey Edmonds.
Edmonds led Dixie County with 221 kills and 84 aces and added 220 assists and 258 digs.
“Kailey is a team-first player, she is selfless and always bought into the we and not the me mentality,” Dixie County coach Jim Bendel said. “Kailey is a two-time team captain and team MVP and was always willing and able to play whatever role needed to be filled.”
Rounding out the first team is senior opposite/setter Cassidy McDonald. Oak Hall followed up a state semifinal appearance in 2023 by advancing to the 2A region semifinals this season, where they were eliminated by eventual state runner-up Trinity Catholic (Ocala).
McDonald led the Eagles (17-3) with 385 assists, 150 digs, 128 kills and 52 aces.
Dad Perry McDonald coached Cassidy her entire career at Oak Hall.
“She’s really had a heck of a volleyball career, and I’m extremely proud of everything she’s done,” Perry McDonald said of his daughter. “From the performances in club and three national championships and four district championships at Oak Hall and taking us (Oak Hall) to two final fours. She is a great facilitator and makes everyone around her better.”
Branford leads the second team with three selections in senior libero Erika Rioux, senior middle blocker Addison Folsom and seventh-grader outside hitter Lalyn Sikes.
“Addison Folsom brought a huge block to our offense and worked extremely hard to learn our offensive style,” Mendy Sikes said. “Lalyn (Sikes) was extremely mentally tough to not only compete but become one of our stat leaders as a seventh grader.”
Newberry is represented on the second team by senior setter Sarah Priester. Priester led the Panthers with 474 assists, 269 digs and 90 aces.
“Sarah did a tremendous job,” Rone said. “At the end of the season when we knew we were going to make a run to try to make the playoffs and we won a bunch of games, she started to set the ball better, played great defense and led the team in aces.”
Senior outside hitter Layla Barber is Union County’s second-team representative. Barber had 198 kills and 42 aces for the Tigers.
“Layla was really strong at outside this year,” Knox said. “She has really developed since she started playing and learned to be smart with the ball. She hit with a lot more control and was able to put us over the top.”
Senior middle blocker Hailey Moody joins the second team from Dixie County.
“Hailey Moody has been our anchor for the past two and a half seasons,” Bedell said. “She is a ball hawk who has a knack for getting to the ball and blocking.”
The final member for the small school second team is senior outside hitter Anna Jane Meeks of Chiefland. Meeks led the 11-11 Indians, who advanced to the regional semifinals, with 183 kills and added 72 digs.
2024 Bosshardt Realty Small School All Area Volleyball Team
Rural-3A – 1st Team
OH – Kailey Edmonds, Dixie County (SR)
OH – Chloe Jones, Newberry (SR)
MB – Jailyn Simmons, Union County (JR)
MB – Madison Ward, Branford (SR)
Opp/Setter – Cassidy McDonald, Oak Hall School (SR)
Setter – Andi Sabourin, Branford (SR)
Libero – Malana Kennard, Newberry (SR)
Rural-3A – 2nd team
OH – Anna Jane Meeks, Chiefland (JR)
OH – Layla Barber, Union County (SR)
OH – Lalyn Sikes, Branford (7th)
MB – Hailey Moody, Dixie County (SR)
MB – Addison Folsom, Branford (SR)
Setter – Sarah Priester, Newberry (SR)
Libero – Erika Rioux, Branford (SR)
Honorable mentions
Bell – Jodi Waddle (SR), Rylee Johnson (SR), Madalynn Smith (SR), Alaina Thomas (SR), Dacy Graham (JR)
Branford – Kayley Johnson (JR), Anabella Dicks (SO)
Bronson – Hailey Clifton (JR), Avanii Valentin (JR), Andrea Schuler (SO)
Chiefland – Trinity DeWees (SR), Amber Campbell (JR), Riley Davies (JR), Nyasia Bivins (SO)
Dixie County (Cross City) – Ava Bechtold (SR), Jaicee Brown (JR)
Fort White – Cassidy Nesselt (SR), Raigan Wockenfuss (FR)
Keystone Heights – Mia Rivera (SO), Kaleigh Marquart (SO)
Newberry – Meadow Moses (JR), Baylee Akers (FR)
Oak Hall – Sophie Thompson (SR), Hannah Timm (JR), Kendylle Bishop (SO)
P.K. Yonge – Trinity Jacobs (SR), Ajha Grady (8th), Holdyn Moore (7th)
Trenton – Koi Perry (SR), Riley Rittenhouse (SR), Kayley Sloan (JR), Hailee Sumlin (FR)
Union County (Lake Butler) – Kamryn Southerland (SR), Indi Knox (JR), Bella Johns (JR), Morgan Smith (FR)
Williston – Chanitey James (SR), Berkley Brooks (JR), Kai Gowland (JR)