Matanzas volleyball team sweeps Buchholz in district tournament opener

The Pirates improved to 21-5 and won their first district tournament game in five years.

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Before the season began, the Matanzas High School volleyball team set two goals — win 18 games and win a district tournament game.

The Pirates defeated Gainesville Buchholz in three sets on Monday, Oct 16, at the Matanzas gym in a District 4-6A tournament opener. They improved to 21-5 to set a new program record for wins in a season. The district tournament victory was their first since 2018, when the current senior class members were in seventh grade.

“Coach told us at the beginning of the season that the seniors need to leave a legacy,” senior outside hitter Senna Thayer said. “We won a district game and we're 21-5, which is the best record we ever had. I’m really proud of this team.”

With the win, the Pirates traveled to New Smyrna Beach on Tuesday, Oct. 17, to face No. 1 district seed Gainesville High in a semifinal game. Gainesville won in three sets, likely ending the Pirates' season at 21-6.

In their final home game, the fourth-seeded Pirates defeated No. 5 Buchholz 25-20, 25-17 and 25-19.

“I thought we played great,” Matanzas coach Dawn Moses said. “I like how we're playing together as a team. I like that I can bring people off the bench, and the bench is able to handle the job. We had a lot of subs coming and in and out.”

Freshman Keri Petro led the Pirates with 12 kills. She had a team-high 252 kills on the season heading into the district semifinal. Sophomore libero Rylan Miller had 16 digs, while freshman setter Grace Taylor had 27 assists and three service aces and junior Abby Eskelsen had nine serving points.

Senior middle blocker Frankie Good had four blocks and six kills, while Thayer had seven kills, 15 digs and 23 serve receptions. Junior Ashley Sampselle added three blocks.

“Both our outsides, Keri and Senna, did a nice job,” Moses said. “Frankie played great in the middle. Ashley blocked great out of the middle with Frankie. That was Ashley's first start in the middle. She's a big presence at the net, and I think that’s going to be huge for us going forward.”

Thayer said it was sad knowing the seniors might have played their last game at home, but she believes they fulfilled Moses' wishes in leaving a legacy. 

“This team has done very well in building from our first game,” she said. “We had a hard five-set win against Tocoi (Creek). We were down two sets and came back to win in five. I think that really showed that if we just put in the effort, everything will be good.”

 

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