C.J. Gish
Mike Ridaught
Sweeps can be very deceiving and on Tuesday night at the Class 1A-District 6 Tournament in Branford, five of the six sets in the semifinal round were decided by two points each.
In the opening match, No. 2 seed Union County (Lake Butler) defeated No. 3 seed Bell, 25-23, 26-24, 25-23, as neither team went ahead by more than six points in any set.
In the opening set, Union County (11-11) held a slim lead most of the way before the Bulldogs rallied late to go ahead 21-18. That didn’t last long as the Tigers clawed back behind a Jailyn Simons ace, a kill and a tip from Layla Barber and Rylie Parrish’s game-winning kill.
In the second set, Bell (15-11) snagged leads of 19-16 and 23-20, but couldn’t hold off Union County again as Parrish served two aces, Indi Knox added two kills and Simons slammed home a kill before Bell hit the ball long for the game-winning point.
“In sets one and two, we were up by multiple points in the 20’s but couldn’t close out the set,” said Bell coach Drue Barry. “We should have swept the first two sets, but give Union County credit, they didn’t give up and made some good digs during those stretches and were able to take this sets.
In the third set, the Tigers jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead and went ahead 12-6 before Bell battled back to pull within 15-14. Union County would build its lead to 22-16 before Bell closed the gap to get within 24-23. But following a Union County time out, the Tigers would claim the match-winning point when a Bell serve went out of bounds.
“Too tight for me, honestly,” said Union County coach Tifani Knox of the match. “I think we missed less serves the second and third sets and we were being a little smarter with the ball. We were able to pick up their tips. They are a tipping team, so once we got in the groove of picking that it up it went better.”
Knox, who said her team was battling the flu last week and is still on the mend, said her hitters – led by Simons – performed well.
“All of our hitters spread it out, which is what works for us,” she said. “We have a lot of hitters that can all hit the ball.”
Simmons led Union County with 10 kills and four blocks. Jurney Crim had 20 digs, Kamryn Southerland added 16 assists and Jordan Hendricks had 10 assists and nine digs. Parrish and Indi Knox had six kills each.
Bell was led by Mae Collett’s 10 kills and four aces.
“Super tough loss tonight,” said Berry. “We will now play the waiting game on (earning a) regional berth.”
The second match pitted No. 1 seed Branford and No. 5 seed Lafayette (Mayo) in another contest that – even though a sweep – went to the wire with the hosting Buccaneers winning 25-17, 26-24, 26-24.
Branford (21-4) looked like it would easily dominate the match by jumping to a 15-7 lead as Lafayette never got closer than five points in the second half of the set. The Bucs got back-to-back aces from Jadyn Mosley and Kennedy Walker added a kill down the stretch to pull away for the 25-17 win.
The second set was more indicative of what the remainder of the match would be – a scrappy battle.
The Hornets (12-7) took control early and built a 13-9 lead before Branford started chipping away with multiple kills from Walker and Madison Ward coupled with an ace and kill by Kayley Johnson to put the Bucs ahead 23-10.
Lafayette would tie the set 24-24, but a Hornets hit out of bounds was followed by a Mosley ace to seal the win for Branford, 26-24.
The third set saw Lafayette take a 14-9 lead, but the script was a repeat of the second set as Branford capitalized on multiple Hornets hitting and serving errors to go ahead 21-18.
The score would be tied at 21, 22, 23 and 24 before Lafayette hit into the net and the Bucs earned the match-winning point with a block.
“(Lafayette) is a very, very strong team and our team is still battling the flu,” said Branford coach Mendy Sikes. “We started dropping really quick and we were able to pull it out in three. I’m not sure we could have gone five (sets).”
Sikes said the key to the win was when her players didn’t get down after falling behind, trusting each other and communicating more, which included covering more of the court for the players who were still not up to speed due to sickness.
“My standouts to me are my middles who played very, very well, and my setter is fantastic,” she said. “Honestly, the entire team. My right side, Kayley Johnson, she’s one that is battling the flu and she made some awesome saves. They all contributed in different areas. I think that’s why we’re so strong.”
Branford faces Union County for the district championship at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Top seed Newberry advanced to the Class 1A-District 7 championship game with a 25-19, 25-13, 23-25, 25-13 win at home against No. 5 Trenton.
Senior Hailey Tharp led the team with 24 kills, while sophomore Meadow Moses had 21 service points with four aces, including 11 points in a row with three aces in set four.
Senior Hanna Templeton had 38 assists and senior Sarah Watson had nine blocks with eight kills.
“Seniors stepped up along with sophomore Meadow Moses,” said Newberry coach Hank Rone, who had some players out due to sickness. “Meadow never came off the court and played steady the whole night with Chloe Jones out. So proud of how we handled ourselves with players being out.”
Serving was the difference for the Panthers (12-14), who will host No. 2 seed Chiefland at 7 p.m. on Thursday for the district title.
“Our serving was stellar and we knew if we could serve well tonight we would give ourselves a shot,” Rone said. “I’m proud of those five seniors who played to win and they punched their ticket into the championship game on Thursday night.”
Chiefland advanced with a 24-26, 25-21, 25-16, 25-19 win against No. 3 Dixie County (Cross City) in the other semifinal.
In Class 6A-District 2, Gainesville High advanced to Thursday night’s district championship with a 25-20, 25-15, 25-22 sweep of visiting Matanzas (Palm Coast).
Columbia commit Charlotte Gravlee led the Hurricanes (18-7) with 16 kills, followed by USC commit Brooklyn Tealer with 14 kills. Madison Howard led GHS with 17 digs, while Chloe Petrik led the ‘Canes with 42 assists.
Matanzas finished the season at 21-6.
GHS, which has won 17 straight home matches at The Purple Palace, will host No. 2 New Smyrna Beach at 6 p.m. on Thursday for the district title.
2023 FHSAA Volleyball District Tournaments
Times are subject to change
Class 1A-District 6 – at Branford High School
Monday, Oct. 16 (Quarterfinals)
No. 5 Lafayette (Mayo) d. No. 4 Fort White 25-13, 25-14, 25-18
Tuesday, Oct. 17 (Semifinals)
No. 2 Union County (Lake Butler) d. No. 3 Bell 25-23, 26-24, 25-23
No. 1 Branford d. No. 5 Lafayette (Mayo) 25-17, 26-24, 26-24
Thursday, Oct. 19 (Championship)
No. 2 Union County (Lake Butler) at No. 1 Branford, 7 p.m.
Class 1A-District 7 – at Higher Seed
Monday, Oct. 16 (Quarterfinals)
No. 5 Trenton d. No. 4 Cedar Key 28-26, 23-25, 25-18, 25-21
Tuesday, Oct. 17 (Semifinals)
No. 1 Newberry d. No. 5 Trenton 25-19, 25-13, 23-25, 25-13
No. 2 Chiefland d. No. 3 Dixie County (Cross City) 24-26, 25-21, 25-16, 25-19
Thursday, Oct. 19 (Championship)
No. 2 Chiefland at No. 1 Newberry, 7 p.m.
Class 1A-District 8 – at Williston High School
Tuesday, Oct. 17 (Semifinals)
No. 2 Glades Day (Belle Glade) d. No. 3 Hawthorne 25-5, 25-10, 25-11
No. 1 Williston d. No. 4 Wildwood 25-5, 25-9, 25-11
Thursday, Oct. 20 (Championship)
No. 2 Glades Day (Belle Glade) at No. 1 Williston, 7 p.m.
Class 2A-District 4
Tuesday, Oct. 17 (Quarterfinals) – at Higher seed
No. 3 St. Francis Catholic Academy 1, No. 6 Florida School for the Deaf & Blind (St. Augustine) 0 (forfeit)
No. 4 St. Joseph Academy (St. Augustine) d. No. 5 Peniel Baptist Academy (Palatka) 25-18, 25-17, 25-17
Wednesday, Oct. 18 (Semifinals) - at St. Francis Catholic
No. 1 Oak Hall School vs. No. 4 St. Joseph Academy (St. Augustine), 5 p.m.
No. 2 Countryside Christian vs. No. 3 St. Francis Catholic Academy, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 19 (Championship) - at St. Francis Catholic Academy
Oak Hall/St. Joseph winner vs. Countryside Christian/St. Francis Catholic winner, 6 p.m.
Class 3A-District 3
Monday, Oct. 16 (Quarterfinals) – at Higher Seed
No. 3 Bradford (Starke) d. No. 6 Taylor County (Perry) 25-21, 25-20, 23-25, 25-13
No. 4 Crescent City d. No. 5 Palatka 25-27, 25-18, 20-25, 25-12, 15-12
Tuesday, Oct. 17 (Semifinals) - at Bradford (Starke)
No. 1 P.K. Yonge vs. No. 4 Crescent City
No. 2 Interlachen d. No. 3 Bradford (Starke) 13-25, 25-21, 21-25, 26-24, 15-13
Thursday, Oct. 19 (Championship) – at Bradford (Starke)
P.K. Yonge/Crescent City winner vs. No. 2 Interlachen, 7 p.m.
Class 4A-District 2 – at Higher Seed
Tuesday, Oct. 17 (Semifinals)
No. 2 Wakulla (Crawfordville) d. No. 3 Suwannee (Live Oak) 25-12, 25-11, 25-17
Class 4A-District 4 – at Higher Seed
Tuesday, Oct. 19 (Semifinals)
No. 1 Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) d. No. 4 Keystone Heights 25-10, 25-18, 25-19
Class 4A-District 5 – at Santa Fe High School (Alachua)
Monday, Oct. 16 (Quarterfinals)
No. 5 North Maron (Citra) d. No. 4 Dunnellon 25-12, 25-18, 25-19
Tuesday, Oct. 17 (Semifinals)
No. 2 Eastside d. No. 3 Crystal River 16-25, 25-18, 25-23, 27-25
No. 1 Santa Fe (Alachua) d. No. 5 North Marion (Citra) 25-5, 25-13, 25-9
Wednesday, Oct. 18 (Championship)
No. 2 Eastside at No. 1 Santa Fe (Alachua), 6:30 p.m.
Class 5A-District 2 – at Higher Seed
Tuesday, Oct. 17 (Semifinals)
No. 3 Vanguard (Ocala) d. No. 2 Columbia (Lake City), 25-22, 25-19, 22-25, 25-23
Class 6A-District 4 – at Higher Seed
Monday, Oct. 16 (Quarterfinals)
No. 4 Matanzas (Palm Coast) d. No. 5 Buchholz 25-17, 25-20, 25-19
Tuesday, Oct. 17 (Semifinals)
No. 1 Gainesville d. No. 4 Matanzas (Palm Coast) 25-20, 25-15, 25-22
No. 2 New Smyrna Beach d. No. 3 Forest (Ocala) 25-20, 18-25, 25-13, 25-16
Thursday, Oct. 19 (Championship)
No. 2 New Smyrna Beach at No. 1 Gainesville, 6 p.m.