The Santa Fe (Alachua) volleyball team is on the bubble for an invitation to the FHSAA’s new Open Division championship, which features the state’s top eight teams.
But on Thursday night at home in the Class 3A-District 4 title game, they were No. 1.
The Raiders, who are ranked No. 9 in the state by MaxPreps, swept Newberry 25-12, 25-9, 25-10 to win their ninth straight district championship.
“It’s one of the best matches we’ve played,” said Santa Fe coach Eric Marshall. “Newberry put a little fuel on the fire today with some posts (on social media)…It’s good fun, but it fired my kids up, so they came in ready to play, and they play with these kids during club season, so you know it adds a little incentive. I knew we would be focused.”
The visiting Panthers, who had their six-game winning streak snapped, faced the Raiders for the first time this season.
“Santa Fe is a great team,” said first-year Newberry coach Miranda Bass. “I’m never going to take that away from them. They’re very well coached and they have a lot of talent. But I’m super proud of our girls. You know, we knew it was going to be a battle, but I’m super proud of them for coming out here and giving it their all.”
Santa Fe (23-3) was just on another level and never trailed the entire night.
Following a light tap over the net for a kill by Newberry junior Baylee Akers to tie the game at 2-2, Santa Fe sophomore Ajha Graddy answered with a kill of her own for a 3-2 lead.
Graddy added another one for a 5-2 lead and finished with three of her team-high nine kills in the opening set.
“Unbelievable…she was fired up tonight because she took some of those posts personal because they were about some of her friends, so she was fired up, and you saw it,” Marshall said. “And her arm swing was faster, harder. She was more focused. She told me not a single ball was getting by her, and one of the first balls got by her and she looked at me and was like, ‘not another one,’ so she was extremely focused on stopping the other side of the net.”
The Raiders had a pair of 5-0 runs and ended the first set with a block by junior Emarie Carlisle for a 25-12 victory and a quick 1-0 lead.
Senior Karlee Noah kept the momentum going with seven service points, including one of three aces, as Santa Fe raced out to an 8-1 lead in the second game.
“There was some smack talk at the beginning, just like with social media and stuff, and then that kind of like fired us up,” said Noah, who led the Raiders with 16 digs. “And then we just took care of business.”
Graddy added another kill at the start of a 6-0 run as the lead grew to 14-2. It was the second district title for the sophomore.
“It feels good,” Graddy said. “I’m honestly proud of the entire team. Knowing last year we were really good, but I feel like this year we have something special, and it means a lot to the whole team.”
Newberry (22-4), which was led by sophomore Carly Myers with seven kills, is hoping to get into the Class 3A state tournament as an at-large team.
“Carly is a stud,” Bass said. “We love Carly, and she has the grit, and I think she helped us a lot. But once again, hats off to Santa Fe and just being an overall competitive team. But that doesn’t take away from the fight that we had.”
Senior Ella Schneider and sophomore Taylor Sembower (12 assists) each had seven kills for Santa Fe, which could either be playing for a 3A state title or an overall state championship.
They will find out on Sunday at 2 p.m. on the FHSAA’s YouTube channel if they make the top eight. Due to the hurricane and playing conditions in certain parts of the state, the girls volleyball bracket release show was moved back from Saturday.
“So, you’re getting rewarded by going and playing the toughest teams in the state at their place,” Marshall said, if Santa Fe makes it into the top eight. “The prestige is there for being a top eight, but you lose some home (crowd). This was fun to me (Thursday’s game). Like, this was exciting and fun to me. This is what high school volleyball is about.”
2026 FHSAA Volleyball District Tournaments
Times are subject to change
Area teams in bold
Rural-District 6 – at Branford
Thursday, Oct. 15 (Championship)
1 Branford d. 3 Union County (Lake Butler) 25-22, 19-25, 25-15, 25-12
Rural-District 7 – at Williston
Thursday, Oct. 15 (Championship)
1 Williston d. 2 Crescent City 25-19, 25-12, 25-21
Class 1A-District 4 – at Saint Francis Catholic Academy
Friday, Oct. 16 (Championship)
2 Countryside Christian at 1 Saint Francis Catholic Academy, 6 p.m.
Class 2A-District 3 – at Trinity Catholic (Ocala)
Thursday, Oct. 15 (Championship)
1 Trinity Catholic (Ocala) d. 2 Oak Hall School 25-13, 25-8, 25-13
Class 3A-District 4 – at Santa Fe (Alachua)
Thursday, Oct. 15 (Championship)
1 Santa Fe (Alachua) d. 2 Newberry 25-12, 25-9, 25-10
Class 4A-District 3 – at Stanton (Jacksonville)
Thursday, Oct. 15 (Championship)
1 Yulee d. 2 Columbia (Lake City) 25-21, 25-14, 25-13
Class 5A-District 3 – at Oakleaf (Orange Park)
Thursday, Oct. 15 (Championship)
1 Middleburg d. 2 Gainesville 25-21, 25-17, 20-25, 23-25, 15-13
