Mike Ridaught
This is the third of three stories unveiling the 2022 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 and the Class 3A-7A All Area big school teams..
Following a first-time appearance and another first in over a decade, Branford coach Mendy Sikes and Gainesville High’s Chancie Vice have been named the 2023 Mainstreet Daily News small school and big school coaches of the year, respectively, sponsored by Bosshardt Realty.
While there were no area state titles this year, there was one school that got to a championship game.
In fact, Branford advanced to its first state championship game in program history.
The Bucs, who finished 25-5, swept Newberry in the state semifinals but lost to Baker in the Class 1A Final at Polk State College in Winter Haven.
“The 2019 (final four) team set the standard that this team has followed,” Sikes said after the loss. “This team had a goal when we got to preseason camp in July and that was to make it here to the championship game.”
Branford, which won both a district and regional title, reeled off 14 straight wins under Sikes until losing to the Gators in the title game 21-25, 25-15, 25-23, and 28-26.
Special recognition goes to Perry McDonald of Class 2A Oak Hall School and Hank Rone of Newberry, who both got their teams to the final four.
McDonald led the Eagles to the 2A-District 4 title. They rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win in the Class 2A-Region 1 Final against visiting Christ’s Church Academy (Jacksonville) to advance to their second state semifinal in three seasons.
Rone’s Panthers (15-15) knocked off top seed Williston on the road in the regional final to advance to the 1A state semifinals. It was Newberry’s first state semifinal since finishing as state runners-up in 2020.
Meanwhile, Vice guided the Hurricanes to back-to-back 20-win seasons.
“This season was incredibly special,” Vice said. “We made it to the Sweet 16. We won districts for the first time in 12 long years. We went 19 straight games without dropping a set at home. These girls earned every accomplishment they got this year.”
Gainesville (20-8) won 26 consecutive sets midseason.
“Every single player played a vital role to get us to where we were this year,” Vice said. “It still hasn’t hit me that I won’t be coaching this exact group again. They all are wonderful athletes but even better humans and they all are going to accomplish so much in life. I am so proud of each and every one of them.”
Vice edged Eric Marshall of Santa Fe (Alachua) for the big school coach award.
“This award is not only to me but the incredible staff we had this season,” Vice said. “I feel so thankful to have worked with each and every one of them. Personally, I viewed my players as my own children. I cared if they worked hard in volleyball, sure, but I care more about who they are growing to become as people.”
Vice said “it always has and will be more than a game.”
“I feel blessed to have been a small part of all of my athletes’ journeys,” she said. “If they remember only one thing from their time with me I hope they remember that Coach Vice loved them.”
Marshall, who won back-to-back 4A state titles, led the Raiders (21-9) to the regional final where they lost at eventual state runner-up Bishop Moore (Orlando).
Special recognition also goes out to Rachel Williams of Eastside and Trudy Andrews of Columbia (Lake City).
Williams went from just one win in her first year as head coach to an 11-win team and a district runner-up finish in 2023, while Andrews led the Tigers to 16 wins and a spot in the 5A state playoffs.
1A/2A
Coach of Year – Mendy Sikes, Branford
Honorable mention – Perry McDonald (Oak Hall) and Hank Rone (Newberry)
3A-6A
Coach of Year – Chancie Vice, GHS
Honorable mention – Eric Marshall (Santa Fe), Trudy Andrews (Columbia) and Rachel Williams (Eastside)