The stakes are higher for area volleyball teams on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
On Tuesday, at least one area team is guaranteed to advance to next week’s FHSAA Rural state semifinals at Polk State College in Winter Haven.
Top seed Branford, which lost in last year’s state championship game to Liberty County (Bristol) and is seeking its third straight title game appearance, will host No. 3 seed Union County (Lake Butler) in the FHSAA Rural-Region 3 Final at 7 p.m.
This will be the fourth meeting this season between the host Bucs (20-4), who are ranked No. 1 in the Rural classification, and the visiting Tigers (20-8), who are ranked fifth in the state.
Branford defeated Union County, 3-1, in the ultra-competitive District 6 championship game on Oct. 16 and also defeated the Tigers twice during the regular season (3-1 on Sept. 16 and 3-0 on Sept. 22).
The Bucs also defeated the Tigers in a five-set thriller in last year’s region final.
Senior Adriauna Combs (260 kills) and Lalyn Sikes (237), who made the Mainstreet Daily News All Area team as a 7th-grader last year, lead Branford offensively, while Union County’s All Area player Jailyn Simmons has 325 kills her senior season, followed by junior Mallory Waugh (206).
Union County is seeking its first state semifinal appearance since getting swept by Baker in the 2022 Class 1A state semifinals.
Williston is the top seed in Region 4 and will host No. 2 seed Moore Haven (16-10) at 7 p.m.
The Red Devils (10-10), who are ranked 10th in the state, are led by seniors Berkley Brooks (163 kills) and Kai Gowland (153).
Williston is seeking its first final four since falling to Liberty County in the 2022 Class 1A state semifinals.
Santa Fe (Alachua) and Gainesville High will be in action on Wednesday.
The No. 2 seed Raiders (20-9), who are seeking their first trip back to the state semifinals since repeating as Class 4A state champions in 2022, will travel to top seed Merritt Island for the Class 4A-Region 2 Final.
They swept defending state champion Bishop Moore (Orlando) this past Saturday in the regional semifinals.
Seniors Delaney Wingenbach (327) and Brooke Findley (275) lead the Raiders in kills.
The host Mustangs (27-2), who are ranked No. 2 in the state in 4A, are led by sophomore Peyton Riordan with 252 kills, followed by senior Kylee Thompson (210).
Merritt Island swept visiting Santa Fe in last year’s regional semifinals.
GHS is seeking its first final four in 14 years.
The No. 2 seed Hurricanes will host No. 4 seed Legacy (Port St. Lucie) at 6 p.m. at the Purple Palace in the Class 5A-Region 2 Final.
The ‘Canes are led by senior Rowan Kage (274 kills) and sophomore Jorryn Dye (214).
Last week, junior Charlotte Judge (639 assists) surpassed 1,000 assists for her career.
“Charlotte has always been a strong leader with an even-keeled attitude,” said Gainesville coach Jerica-Carter Mitchell. “She does not get frazzled easily, which is extremely important in competitive matches. She has done an amazing job getting all of our hitters involved and I never have to question whether she is giving 100%.”
She is also “a strong and consistent server for us.”
Judge is third in aces (28), and second in service points (162).
“Charlotte has been a vital part of our success this year,” Carter-Mitchell said.
The visiting Lions (23-7), who are led by sophomore Lyla Barker-Bray with 261 kills.
“We’ve watched a few recent game films on Legacy,” said Gainesville coach Jerica-Carter Mitchell. “They are a brand-new school out of Port St. Lucie, so this is their first volleyball season, and they have no seniors. They have a great coaching staff, a crafty right-side lefty similar to Rowan (the tallest girl on the team). She is their go-to.”
Legacy upset top seed Innovation (Orlando) in four sets on Saturday in the regional semifinals.
“They serve tough, are scrappy, and the outsides tip and tool the block a lot,” Carter-Mitchell said. “They run a 5-1 and their setter jump sets. For us to be successful, we have to play Gainesville volleyball – serve aggressively, have a solid serve-receive, be active on defense, and our offense needs to execute.”
2025 FHSAA Volleyball Regional Finals
All games at 7 p.m. (unless noted)
Times are subject to change
Area teams in bold
Tuesday, Oct. 28
Rural-Region 3
3 Union County (Lake Butler) at 1 Branford
Rural-Region 4
2 Moore Haven at 1 Williston
Class 4A-Region 2
2 Santa Fe (Alachua) at 1 Merritt Island
Class 5A-Region 2
4 Legacy (Port St. Lucie) at 2 Gainesville, 6 p.m.