High School Volleyball: Meet the Treasure Coast's four district champions
The high school volleyball postseason is firmly here following a compelling week of district tournament action on the Treasure Coast.
Between eight brackets including local teams, four squads played well enough to lift sought-after championship trophies. As a result, those schools punched their tickets in the FHSAA playoffs, with potential home openers on the horizon.
Regional quarterfinals are scheduled to begin for Classes 1A-3A on Tuesday, with Classes 4A-6A following on Wednesday. All regional semifinals will take place on Saturday, Oct. 24. Regional finals for Classes 1A-3A are scheduled for Oct. 27 with Class 4A-6A on Oct. 28.
Here’s a look at the area’s four district champions as well as the two teams that took runner-up honors:
The Pirates had one hiccup on their run to the Class 1A state championship match last season: They failed to win the district title, falling to Brevard HEAT in five sets.
This time, St. Edward’s emphatically checked that box against the same opponent while establishing itself as a favorite to return to state. The Pirates swept the Firehawks in the district final Thursday in Vero Beach.
It is the program’s first district title since 2023.
“I believe the key to getting the win was our communication,” said St. Edward’s associate coach Kathleen Thuene, who is serving as acting head coach while Kelsey Fox is on a brief, excused leave of absence. “Our passing and serve receive were on point tonight. And the all-around team camaraderie was really, really prevalent.”
Junior outside hitter Nevin Waddell led the Pirates with 12 digs and five aces while adding seven kills, 11 serve receptions and a block. Sophomore outside hitter Grace Clemente produced a team-high 12 kills and three blocks.
Junior setter Margaret Fykes dished out 26 assists. Junior libero Grace Fykes recorded 16 serve receptions, and sophomore Alexandra Jefferson added five blocks.
Since losing last season’s district final, the Pirates have defeated Brevard HEAT in their past three meetings. As a result of the latest victory, St. Edward’s will be the top seed in Region 2-1A when the brackets are released Sunday afternoon.
After receiving Friday off, the Pirates will have just one day to prepare for their regional quarterfinal opponent as they look to replicate last season’s postseason success.
“We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing,” Thuene said. “We’re going to keep relying on each other, keep communicating and keep being the team they’ve been all year long thanks to Coach Kelsey.”
The Knights extended the area’s longest district championship streak.
The Pine School defeated The Greene School in four sets Friday night to complete a district three-peat. Set scores were 25-15, 21-25, 25-16 and 25-17 in Hobe Sound.
“The girls worked hard all week. We really changed our intensity in practice leading into districts,” Knights coach Kendall Holmes said. “Every day was loud, fast, with a lot of intensity, and it really showed tonight.”
That intensity was needed after the match was tied at one set apiece. Holmes noted the Dolphins’ strength at the service line and their ability to neutralize some of Pine’s top hitters before her team regrouped in the third set.
“It was about having a short-term memory, bouncing back and focusing on intensity,” she said. “Each play is about six seconds long, so I told them to focus on what they have to do for six seconds and do it successfully.”
Limited early, Vitoria Claret closed the night strong. The Knights freshman outside hitter recorded a match-high 20 kills to go with eight digs, two aces and two blocks. She also tied junior libero Juliette Swan with 23 receptions.
Swan posted a team-high 16 digs. Eighth-grade setter Talis Brinn added 20 assists and 14 digs.
Eighth-grade setter Vashni Folgeman finished with eight kills, 13 assists and a team-high five aces.
The Knights will be the No. 2 seed in Region 4-1A behind defending state champion Boca Raton Christian.
The Lions battled through a tight first set against South Fork before taking control of the final two sets to complete a sweep on their home court.
Visit TCPalm for an in-depth recap of Thursday’s District 13-4A Final.
This champion was the only area team to capture a district title on the road.
Entering district play on the outside looking in for a playoff spot, Vero Beach emerged with its second district title in three years after defeating top-seeded Jupiter in a five-set thriller.
Visit TCPalm.com for an in-depth recap of Thursday’s District 12-6A Final.
The Rams will have to wait another year to end their district championship drought after falling to Benjamin in five sets at home.
John Carroll Catholic has earned district runner-up honors in each of the past three seasons. The Rams have hosted five-set district finals in each of the past two years.
Visit TCPalm.com for an in-depth recap of Thursday’s District 11-2A Final.
After upsetting Jensen Beach on the road in the district semifinals, the Bulldogs could not repeat the feat at Legacy. However, the district final appearance should be enough to earn a regional playoff berth and set up a possible rematch with the Lions.
Visit TCPalm.com for an in-depth recap of Thursday’s District 11-2A Final.
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: High School Volleyball: Meet the Treasure Coast’s four district champions
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