Mike Ridaught
Editor’s Note
This is the second of three stories unveiling the 2023 Mainstreet Daily News All Area Volleyball Teams, sponsored by Bosshardt Realty. Click here to read about the Class 1A/2A All Area small school team.
While there were no state championships this year for big school area volleyball teams, it was still a banner season for Santa Fe (Alachua) and Gainesville High.
Two-time defending state champion Santa Fe, which lost in the region final this year, and GHS, which won its first district title in 12 years, dominated the 2023 Mainstreet Daily News All Area Volleyball Teams, sponsored by Bosshardt Realty.
Both schools led the way with five players each on the first and second teams, including four GHS players on the first team.
Three players made the first team for Santa Fe, which lost at Bishop Moore (Orlando) in the Class 4A-Region 2 Final and has played in the state playoffs every year since 2011.
Senior Jordan Czaplewski, who transferred to Santa Fe from Buchholz, had a team-leading 353 kills for the Raiders (21-9). She added 17 aces, 18 blocks, and 307 digs.
“It took her a while to figure out her role but midseason she became our main point scorer,” said Santa Fe coach Eric Marshall. “She’s really competitive, a really competitive player. I was very impressed with how competitive she was and how much she wanted to win.”
Middle blocker JoseLynn Sanjurjo, a Mercer University signee, made the first team after finishing second with 240 kills. Sanjurjo, who has been with the program for four years and was a part of two state championships, added 15 aces and a team-leading 51 blocks.
“She took on a new role this year to where she had to score more points,” Marshall said. “I thought she did an outstanding job. She’s an incredible teammate. She really cares about people.”
The final Raider on the first team is libero Olivia Beavers. The senior led the team with 448 digs while adding 22 aces and 39 assists.
“First year at libero, never played it for me before,” Marshall said. “She was also one of my captains. Olivia is someone on the team that always makes sure everybody is being taken care of.”
The Raiders, who won the 4A-District 6 title with a sweep of Eastside, placed a pair on the second team.
Outside hitter Anna Kate Carlisle had 186 kills, 18 blocks, and 56 digs.
“Very flexible, played middle for me last year but I moved her around this year because of the injury to Brooke (Findley),” Marshall said of his other captain. “She was able to play outside and right side, which helped the team but didn’t necessarily help her because she was constantly getting moved. She never complained.”
Marshall’s daughter, Gracyn, made the second team as a setter.
The sophomore finished with 473 assists while adding 41 kills and 200 digs. She was also second on the team with 46 aces.
“(Last year) She won a state championship but felt like it wasn’t really hers because she played at districts but didn’t play at regionals or at state so she was really excited to have a shot this year,” Marshall said. “Intense competitor. She always wants to know what she’s doing wrong and how she can improve.”
GHS had three Division-I signees, all of whom made the first team.
Brooklyn Tealer, who signed with USC, led the Hurricanes (20-8) with a .425 hitting percentage as well as 281 kills her senior season. She added 32 serving aces, was second with 48 blocks, and added 133 digs.
“BT is a once in the coaching lifetime kind of player,” said GHS head coach Chancie Vice. “Her athleticism is out of this world. The girl almost touches 11 feet. It’s no surprise her being a top 10 recruit in the entire U.S. Her versatility and discipline makes her one of the most fun players to coach. To say she has left her mark on GHS volleyball would be an understatement.”
Meme Davis, who will join Sanjurjo at Mercer, is a dynamic player. She led the ‘Canes with 333 digs this season and 44 aces. She added 249 kills and was Vice’s first player to hit the 1,000-milestone.
“No matter the competition she always shows up,” Vice said. “She is clearly a force. She also is a terminator offensively. Her volleyball IQ is like no other player I have ever coached. She makes a difference every single time she steps on the court. Her relentlessness is shown through meeting her 1,000th career dig early in our season this year.”
Columbia University signee Charlotte Gravlee made the first team after leading GHS in blocks.
As a middle blocker, Gravlee had 56 blocks, was third in kills with 148 and had 20 aces.
She finished with a .636 hitting percentage in Gainesville’s sweep of Navarre in the opening round of the 6A state playoffs.
“Char is hands down the most coachable kid in the world,” Vice said. “She holds herself to such a high standard that makes everyone around her want to be better and work harder too. Her tenacity and focus makes her an inspiration to any younger players who watches our games. There is never a doubt that Charlotte wants to win every single point. More so, her character is that of a true leader. She truly cares about every single person around her and has the biggest heart.”
The fourth GHS player on the first team is junior setter Chloe Petrik, who led the Hurricanes with 735 assists. She added 42 aces.
“Chloe is charismatic, she makes coaching fun,” Vice said. “Without Chloe, we would not be the offensive producer we are. When you talk to Chloe you cannot help but smile. She is courageous and resilient and always ready to learn more to put her teammates in the best possible position to succeed. Her hard work and determination is admirable and her energy is contagious.”
Senior Madison Howard is the fifth and final Hurricane to earn All Area honors, making the second team.
She was the most consistent passer for GHS, passing a 2.5 out-of-serve receive. She also contributed 260 digs this season.
“Madi is a very special player,” Vice said. “She had to overcome a lot to get to the position she was in this year and she did so with grace and composure. She wants to get better every single day and make everyone around her better as well. Madi will do whatever it takes. She’s the first player to show up and always the last to leave. She is the player always asking for more reps and gym time. Her hunger for the game is otherworldly. There will never be a point Madi ‘takes off.’ I am so proud to have been her coach.”
Columbia (Lake City), which advanced to the 5A state playoffs, had two players on the second team.
Sophomore middle blocker Sinei Wood and senior outside hitter Autumn Jones each had a team-leading 210 kills for the 16-9 Tigers.
Wood led the team with 411 digs and 66 blocks, and she finished second on the team with 49 aces and 227 points.
“Sinei is an amazing athlete who is always motivated to push herself and her teammates to play their best,” said Columbia coach Trudy Andrews. “She is an all-around top performer and a huge asset to our team. Sinei is everything you would ask for in an athlete and we can always count on her to be a leader on and off the court.”
Jones added 36 aces and was second behind Wood with 284 digs.
“Autumn is a remarkable player and teammate,” Andrews said. “She has made many outstanding plays for us and always performs to the best of her abilities. Autumn is a team captain and a valuable member of our team.”
Eastside junior middle blocker Samiyah Daniels made the second team after leading the Rams from a 1-win team in 2022 to 11 wins and a district runner-up finish in 2023.
She led Eastside (11-11) with 118 kills and added 17 aces and a team-leading 116 blocks.
The final member of the team is Suwannee (Live Oak) outside hitter Rachel Smith, who led the Class 4A Bulldogs (11-14) with 215 kills. The senior led the way with 344 digs and finished second on the team with 38 aces and 23 blocks.
3A-6A – 1st Team
OH – Brooklyn Tealer (Sr.), GHS
OH – Jordan Czaplewski (Sr.), Santa Fe
OH – Meme Davis (Sr.), GHS
MB – Charlotte Gravlee (Sr.), GHS
MB – JoseLynn (Sr.), Santa Fe
Setter – Chloe Petrik (Jr.), GHS
Libero – Olivia Beavers (Sr.), Santa Fe
3A-6A – 2nd team
OH – Autumn Jones (Sr.), Columbia
OH – Anna Kate Carlisle (Sr.), Santa Fe
OH – Rachel Smith (Sr.), Suwannee
MB – Sinei Wood (So.), Columbia
MB – Samiyah Daniels (Jr.), Eastside
Setter – Gracyn Marshall (So.), Santa Fe
Libero – Madison Howard (Sr.), GHS
Honorable mention
Buchholz – Emmy Rowland (Sr.), Hailey McLaughlin (Sr.), Katie White (Sr.), Callie Kieszek (Fr.)
Columbia – Cassidy O’Neal (Jr.), Kayla Goodloe (Jr.), Mylie Fernandez (So.), Haidyn Markham (Jr.)
Eastside – Joanna Williams (Jr.), Lexy Livingston (Sr.), Kieara Hall (Jr.)
Gainesville – Rowan Kage (So.), Nicole Ellis (Jr.), Addy Hauptman (So.)
Keystone Heights – Abbie Roach (Sr.), Kiersten Shaw (Jr.), Taylor Marquart (Sr.), Kadence Carlton (Sr.)
Santa Fe – Kim Daniels (Sr.), Alexis Rhoden (So.), Morgan Lawson (So)
Suwannee – Jordyn Chandler (Fr.), Paula Golub (So.), Claire Palmer (Jr.)
P.K. Yonge – Trinity Jacobs (Jr.), Autumn James (Sr.)