This Thursday in Alachua, six area volleyball teams will participate in the second annual Crafty Gemini Preseason Showdown at Legacy Park Multipurpose Center.
The FHSAA-sanctioned event features eight teams from the region. The first four matches begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the third place and championship games at 7 p.m.
Headlining the list of area teams is Santa Fe (Alachua), which finished 20-8 last year and advanced to the Class 4A-Region 2 Semifinals following a first-round playoff win against Satellite (Satellite Beach).
University of Iowa signee Gia McGrew is gone, but there is plenty of talent returning.
“I have several returning starters (Delaney Wingenbach, Brooke Findley, Gracyn Marshall, Morgan Lawson, Karlee Noah, and Emarie Carlisle), so I think we should have a pretty good team,” said Raiders’ head coach Eric Marshall. “We are keeping the same expectations. Win Districts, Regionals, and try and make a run at state.”
The Raiders will face Class 6A Buchholz, which finished 10-13 in 2024.
Class 4A Eastside, which ended with an 11-13 mark, will play Rural regional finalist Union County (Lake Butler), which finished 17-10.
“We’re excited to be a part of the preseason classic at Legacy this year,” said Eastside coach Rachel Williams, who graduated five seniors. “I’m so excited about our young team and all the potential for great things ahead this season and beyond.”
Essence Davis is the lone senior this year for the Rams.
“She’s been with me all four of my coaching years at Eastside,” said Williams, who will also have five juniors and four sophomores. “She showed promise and potential for work ethic and leadership from the beginning as a freshman. She is a setter and right-side hitter and an encouraging, motivating voice on the court and off.”
Newberry, which missed the postseason last year following a 5-set loss to Palatka in the 3A-District 5 Semifinals, will play Rural regional semifinalist Lafayette (Mayo).
“We’re entering this season with a young but talented group that I’m really excited about,” said Newberry coach Hank Rone, who is entering his sixth season as head coach and 11th overall with the Panthers. “Losing Sarah Priester at setter means we have some big shoes to fill, but we have three quality players competing for our top two setter positions in junior Kinsley Harvey, sophomore Elizabeth Fowler, and senior Abi Clanton. We hope to have that rotation solidified after the preseason classic.”
The biggest challenge for the Panthers, who finished 15-11 last year, will be replacing libero Malana Kennard, who left Newberry as their all-time digs leader.
“I’m looking forward to the learning experience at the Crafty Gemini Preseason Showdown with this young group,” Rone said. “We know we’ll take some lumps early as we develop our timing and chemistry, especially between our setters and hitters, but I’m confident we’ll improve significantly as the season progresses.”
Rounding out the field are The Rock, which won the National Christian School Athletic Association (NCSAA) national title last year, and Class 7A regional quarterfinalist Forest (Ocala).
“We’re thrilled to welcome teams and fans back for our second year of the Preseason Showdown,” said Brandon “Coach B” Wilson, of Crafty Gemini Youth Development. “This tournament is more than just a night of great volleyball; it’s about giving young women a platform to shine, building school pride, and creating a space where families and communities come together to support their student-athletes.”
Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for students. To celebrate student support, every student with a paid entry receives a free slice of pizza and a drink.
Crafty Gemini Youth Development, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that offers youth enrichment programs, entrepreneurship training, hands-on learning, and recreation.
In partnership with the city of Alachua, CGYD also supports senior citizen recreation, including fitness classes, arts & crafts, field trips, and community events that foster wellness and connection across generations.
CGYD thanks all participating coaches, schools, sponsors, volunteers, and the city of Alachua for helping to make this community-centered event possible.