The Oak Hall School volleyball team closed the season strong.
The Eagles won eight of their final nine games during the regular season following the return of head coach Perry McDonald.
The defeated Destin in the district semifinals and then they won the rubber match against rival Saint Francis Catholic Academy to win the 2A-District 1 title, their fifth straight district championship.
“Few individuals have the resolve and resilience needed to rebound from a dismal 4-10 start to then somehow commit themselves to the ideal that if we all play our role in contributing to a shared vision based upon the potential that we still believe exists within us then something magical might happen,” McDonald said. “This team embodied such a belief during the 10 win and one loss streak that memorialized their season en route to a district championship.”
But as fast as their finish was, it was their slow start that proved to be the difference in the FHSAA Class 2A-Region 1 Quarterfinals on Tuesday night as the No. 7 seed Eagles were swept at No. 2 seed Trinity Catholic (Ocala), 25-14, 25-11, 25-14.
The Class 2A state runners-up, who swept the Eagles in last year’s regional semifinals, raced out to an 8-0 lead.
Following seven service points by Trinity Catholic junior setter Margaret O’Farrell, a service error put the Eagles on the board. OHS senior Lizzie Cannon had the team’s first kill to make it 9-2.
But a 5-0 run extended the lead to 16-4 and the Celtics added another 5-0 run for a 21-6 advantage.
The Eagles got back-to-back aces by senior outside hitter Haley Janes (8 kills, 4 aces) to get within single digits at 21-12.
Her seven service points got the Eagles within seven at 21-14, but the 2A No. 5 Celtics (15-10), who are ranked 18th overall in Florida, scored the final four points for a 25-14 win in the opening set.
For the second consecutive set the Eagles never led, and Trinity Catholic’s 10-0 run, highlighted by three aces from junior Ashlyn Hallick, gave the Celtics a commanding 17-4 lead.
Janes’ kill was blocked out of bounds to end the scoring streak, but a service error by Janes gave a point back to Trinity Catholic for a 19-5 lead, followed by a 25-11 victory and a 2-0 lead.
Any hope of a comeback was squashed by an 8-0 Trinity Catholic run in the third set for an 11-3 lead, which included three kills by freshman outside hitter Angelyn Hunt.
Although the Eagles got as close as three at 13-10, the Celtics closed the match on a 6-0 run to advance to Saturday’s regional semifinals.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the girls on my Oak Hall team,” McDonald said. “Tonight, we ran into a more talented, physically superior and better coached opponent than we have faced in the past month. The fact that we were even able to get here is a testament to the work ethic and commitment that our girls showed.”
Junior middle blocker Kendylle Bishop contributed 3 kills, 2 blocks, 4 service points and an ace, while junior middle blocker Paige Sherrod added a pair of kills and a dig for the Eagles, who finished the season at 14-12.
2025 FHSAA Volleyball Regional Tournaments
Area teams in bold
Tuesday, Oct. 21
Class 2A-Region 1 Quarterfinals
2 Trinity Catholic (Ocala) 3, 7 Oak Hall School 0 – 25-14, 25-11, 25-14 (Eagles finish 14-12)
Class 3A-Region 2 Quarterfinals
2 Montverde Academy 3, 7 Keystone Heights 0 – 25-9, 25-12, 25-11 (Indians finish 17-11)
3 McKeel Academy (Lakeland) 3, 6 Newberry 0 – 25-16, 25-14, 25-9 (Panthers’ season ends at 19-9)