Editor’s Note: This is the third of three stories unveiling the 2025 Bosshardt Realty All Area Volleyball Teams. Click here to read about the All Area Small School team and the All Area Big School Team.
The Sikes family was back in the final four in 2025.
In 2024, Mendy Sikes earned Coach of the Year honors after leading the Branford volleyball team to a state runner-up finish. This year, Mendy served as an assistant coach under her daughter, Lachelle, who led Branford to its first state title in program history.
Meanwhile, Jerica Carter-Mitchell, in just her second season, led the Gainesville volleyball team to its first state semifinal in 14 years.
For their accomplishments, Lachelle Sikes and Carter-Mitchell have been named the Bosshardt Realty Small School and Big School Coach of the Year, respectively.
“I am still to this day waiting for everything to fully sink in,” said Lachelle Sikes, who was also named the Florida Dairy Farmers Rural Coach of the Year. “I’ve actually really been struggling with the season being over because it never really felt like a task to do. Sure, there were hard times, but these girls made me look forward to coming to practice every single day. It’s been difficult to not get to be with them every day.”
Top-ranked Branford (24-4), which swept Williston in the state semifinals, defeated No. 2 seed Chipley in five sets to win the FHSAA Rural state championship.
“As my first year as head coach, a win like this means everything to me, but it would not have been possible without my mom,” Lachelle Sikes said. “She has established such a strong culture in the program for so many years. Having her as my coach growing up showed me exactly what I wanted to bring to the table when I stepped into that role. She was my rock during the entire season, and I cannot thank her enough.”
The third time was the charm for the Bucs after a third straight trip to the state semifinals with a 3-1 win against Union County (Lake Butler) in the FHSAA Rural-Region 3 Final.
“This group of girls never had to be asked to want it more,” Lachelle Sikes said. “They stepped into the gym every single day with a goal in mind and did not leave content until they got better. The entire atmosphere of every single practice was truly incredible for a high school team. I couldn’t have asked for a better staff and team to accomplish this goal. I am so proud of them and proud of myself for having the confidence to follow in my mother’s footsteps, which was a huge role to fill, and I learned so much through this process and will forever be so grateful.”
Special recognition goes to Union County coach Tifani Knox and Oak Hall coach Perry McDonald.
Knox took Union County, which lost to Branford in the Rural-District 6 championship game, to its third straight regional final. The No. 3 seed Tigers (21-9) swept No. 2 seed Lafayette (Mayo) on the road in the regional semifinals to advance within a game of the final four.
“This season was a good one,” Knox said. “Coaching these seniors through four years was a privilege. Watching the team learn and grow as players and people is the reason I coach. They are an amazing group of girls, and I can’t wait to see where life takes them.”
McDonald, who retired from coaching in 2024, had a brief return in 2025 to make Oak Hall relevant again after a 4-10 start.
“My unexpected and serendipitous return to coaching at Oak Hall could not have been more emotionally gratifying and rewarding,” McDonald said. “I was blessed to be able to work with an absolutely stellar group of young women that had the character and perseverance to shake off the scars that came with their 4-10 start to the season.”
The Eagles rallied to win the Class 2A-District 1 title and earn a postseason bid.
“The power of their shared commitment to working hard and making the game fun again was a testament to the ethos that they embraced en route a 10-2 finish and a district championship,” McDonald said. “Coaching this team was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had in my 29-year career.”
Carter-Mitchell and the Hurricanes (20-9) enjoyed success all season long and capped the special run with a spot in the Class 5A state semifinals following a sweep of Legacy (Port St. Lucie) in the FHSAA Class 5A-Region 2 Final.
“Overall, the Hurricanes had a pretty amazing season,” she said. “We were the Silver Champions of the Premier Division at the Nike Tournament of Champions and placed fifth overall in the JJVA Wawa River City Classic. Our final MaxPreps ranking in the Gainesville area was No. 1, and we were district champions, regional champions, and made our first final four appearance since 2011. Making it to States was a great way for our four-year varsity players, Rowan Kage and Addy Hauptman, to finish their high school careers.”
She said the key to such a great year was the play of Kage, a West Florida signee, and Hauptman.
“The leadership of our (two) seniors were the keys to our success,” Carter-Mitchell said. “Although we had a great supporting cast of talented underclassmen, our seniors positively led their team through each playoff match. The underclassmen wanted to win for them. They formed a great unit by developing strong friendships with each other and they all worked towards a common goal.”
After a surprising first-round exit in the playoffs last year, this season was almost unexpected.
“Overall, this team did exceed expectations. I mean every team’s goal is to make it to States, but realistically, every regional playoff match is challenging,” Carter-Mitchell said. “What was different this year than last year was our level of preparation for each opponent. We scouted each team well and adjusted our defense accordingly. As a coach, I was so pleased with their level of execution. Now that we’ve played in the final four, my vision is that the returnees expect nothing less each year going forward. Now that we’ve gotten our jitters out and they know what it is like to play in the final four, I’m hoping that we make it to the Finals next. That is how we change the culture.”
Andre Medina of Buchholz, Eric Marshall of Santa Fe (Alachua), and Hank Rone of Newberry are honorable mention selections.
Medina and the Bobcats (20-6) won the Class 6A-District 2 title, won a first-round regional playoff game, defeated Santa Fe on Sept. 25 to end an 11-game losing streak to the Raiders, and they also snapped a 9-game losing streak to rival GHS on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
Marshall led the Raiders (20-10) to the Class 4A-District 5 title and two regional wins against Titusville and Bishop Moore (Orlando) before a season-ending loss at eventual state runner-up Merritt Island in the 4A-Region 2 Final.
Rone and the Panthers just missed a 20-win season. Newberry (19-9) swept Palatka and Keystone Heights to win the 3A-District 5 title, followed by a loss at McKeel Academy (Lakeland) in the FHSAA Class 3A-Region 2 quarterfinals.
