- November 5, 2024
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Working on bumps, sets and hits Monday afternoon in the Matanzas High School gym, Lady Pirates volleyball coach Julie Menendez — in her second year — was starting to see the hard summer work pay off.
She also saw firsthand her team grasping this year’s motto: one more. That could mean one more pushup after letting the ball land during the drill, one more point to get during a crucial District 5-6A matchup against Seabreeze late in the season, or just one more win to get into the postseason.
Last year was a rebuilding year for the Lady Pirates, who managed to win just two games. The team returned just two varsity players from the year before, and both of those players were juniors. Matanzas will once again have a young team, with two seniors, three juniors and five sophomores.
“We were not proud of our record (last season), but I was proud of the perseverance the girls showed throughout the season,” Menendez said.
Matanzas also joins a new district this year, with Mainland, Seabreeze, Pine Ridge, Deltona and New Smyrna Beach.
“We are very excited to see how much our team has grown and improved,” Menendez said, noting that the team chemistry as a strength heading into this season. Most of the varsity players have been playing together for three years, which should help on the court. In addition, the team has worked out of the summer, and several players have been a part of offseason teams.
“The biggest hurdle we will face is overcoming our past record and believing in our skills,” Menendez said. “We are all extremely excited to see how far this team will go this year.”
POCKET SCHEDULE
Aug. 17 Spruce Creek Tournament
6:30 p.m. Aug. 27 vs. Atlantic
5 p.m. Aug. 29 @ Father Lopez
6:30 p.m. Sept. 3 vs. Deltona
6:30 p.m. Sept. 4 vs. St. Augustine
6:30 p.m. Sept. 5 @ New Smyrna Beach
6:30 p.m. Sept. 10 @ Mainland
6:30 p.m. Sept. 11 @ Pedro Menendez
6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 vs. Seabreeze
6:30 p.m. Sept. 17 @ Pine Ridge
6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 vs. FPC
6:30 p.m. Sept. 19 @ Deltona
6:30 p.m. Sept. 24 vs. New Smyrna Beach
6:30 p.m. Sept. 25 @ Palatka
6:30 p.m. Sept. 26 vs. Mainland
Sept. 28 Seabreeze Tournament
6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 @ Seabreeze
6:30 p.m. Oct. 2 vs. Nease
6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 vs. Pine Ridge (Senior Night)
6:30 p.m. Oct. 17 @ FPC
Oct. 18-19 Florida Deaf and Blind Tournament
Oct. 22-24 District 5-6A tournament (at Matanzas)
