Newberry sweeps Keystone Heights for district championship

Newberry claimed the Class 3A-District 4 title with a win over Keystone Heights on Thursday. Courtesy of Newberry volleyball
Newberry claimed the Class 3A-District 4 title with a win over Keystone Heights on Thursday.
Courtesy of Newberry volleyball

The top-seeded Newberry volleyball team swept No. 2 seed Keystone Heights 25-22, 25-14, 25-23 at home to win the Class 3A-District 5 title.

The Panthers (19-8) built an 18-8 lead in the opening set, but the visiting Indians (17-10) didn’t go down easily, fighting back to get within two points. However, Newberry finished out the first set, 25-22, to take a 1-0 lead.

Newberry controlled the second set after senior captain Meadow Moses helped the Panthers to a 5-0 lead on their way to a double-digit win, 25-14. 

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The third set was back-and-forth. Newberry had game point at 24-20 and hit a shot, but it was ruled out, allowing the Indians to fight back to within one, 24-23, before sophomore Baylee Akers (10 kills, 7 blocks) got the final kill for the 25-23 win and a sweep of the 3-game series.

Freshman outside hitter Carly Myers had 11 kills and 12 digs, and junior setter Kinsley Harvey had 33 assists and 11 digs for Newberry, which will host a regional playoff game on Tuesday.

“Great match tonight,” said Newberry coach Hank Rone, who won his 100th career game with a sweep of Palatka in the district semifinals. “Keystone came to play, but our girls really dug deep to pull it off. We had some great blocks and offensive plays tonight. I’m just most proud of how well they rallied together and fought for each other. It was a true team effort.”

It was the third district title for Rone as head coach of the Panthers and his seventh since he began coaching at Newberry.

Buchholz defeated Fletcher (Neptune Beach) to capture the Class 6A-District 2 championship on Thursday. Courtesy of Billy Pankey
Courtesy of Billy Pankey Buchholz defeated Fletcher (Neptune Beach) to capture the Class 6A-District 2 championship on Thursday.

2025 FHSAA Volleyball District Championships

Area teams in bold

Thursday, Oct. 16

Rural-District 6 – at Union County (Lake Butler)

1 Branford 3, 3 Union County (Lake Butler) 1 – 25-13, 22-25, 25-17, 25-18

Rural-District 7 – at Williston

1 Williston 3, 3 Trenton 1 – 25-20,21-25, 25-21, 25-19

Class 2A-District 1 – at Oak Hall School

2 Oak Hall 3, 4 Saint Francis Catholic Academy 1 – 25-11, 25-22, 23-25, 25-19

Class 3A-District 5 – at Newberry

1 Newberry 3, 2 Keystone Heights 0 – 25-22, 25-14, 25-23

Class 4A-District 2 – at Wakulla (Crawfordville)

1 Wakulla (Crawfordville) 3, 2 Suwannee (Live Oak) 1 – 25-19, 20-25,28-26, 25-16

Class 4A-District 5 – at Crystal River

1 Santa Fe (Alachua) 3, 2 Crystal River 0 – 25-23, 25-6, 25-18 

Class 5A-District 5 – at Lecanto

1 Gainesville 3, 2 Lecanto 0 – 25-22, 25-17, 25-12

Class 6A-District 2 – at Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine)

1 Buchholz 3, 2 Fletcher (Neptune Beach) 1 – 25-18, 23-25, 25-21, 25-20

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