- October 16, 2024
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Faith Purvis (3) and Rylan Miller celebrate the Pirates' district quarterfinal victory against Orlando East River. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Matanzas' Faith Purvis hits over the net. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Matanzas players celebrate. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
The Flagler Palm Coast volleyball team poses for a team photo after its 3-0 victory over Ocala West Port. Courtesy photo
Pirates middle Ashley Sampselle goes for a kill. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Abby Eskelsen serves for the Pirates. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Matanzas sophomore Keri Petro hits over the net. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
The Pirates' Olivia Chochev serves. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Matanzas senior Abby Eskelsen hits over the net. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Matanzas senior Faith Purvis passes. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Matanzas coach Dawn Moses charts on the sideline. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Matanzas freshman Analise Smith serves. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Matanzas volleyball players toss T-shirts. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Matanzas, Flagler Palm Coast and Seabreeze all won their district tournament quarterfinals to advance to the semifinal round.
Seabreeze played a day later than the other teams and had to host a match on a rival's court because of power issues at its gym.
The Sandcrabs' District 6-5A match against Atlantic was postponed to Tuesday, Oct. 15 and the match was moved to Mainland High School with the Sandcrabs defeating the Sharks 3-0. Orlando Innovation, which defeated Jones 3-0 on Monday, Oct. 14, agreed to postpone the semifinal until Wednesday, Oct. 16, with the Sandcrabs (11-8) traveling to Orlando to face the Bulls (14-7).
Matanzas (11-11) defeated Orlando East River (10-9) 3-1 in a District 3-6A quarterfinal on Oct. 14 at the Pirates' gym. FPC (16-6) swept Ocala West Port 3-0 in a District 2-7A match on Oct. 14 at the Bulldogs' gym. It was the Bulldogs' first district tournament win since 2018 and only their second in the past 16 years.
The Bulldogs' season ended the following night with a 3-0 semifinal loss to DeLand (22-2), the fifth-ranked team in the state among all classifications. The Bulldogs finished with a 16-7 record, their first winning season since 2019.
The Pirates were scheduled to travel Oct. 15 for a semifinal game against Oviedo, which is ranked second in the state in Class 6A.
Matanzas defeated East River, 27-25, 18-25, 25-14 and 25-12. The key to the match, Pirates coach Dawn Moses said, was serving.
"We needed to serve the ball aggressively," she said. "And we chose to keep the ball away from (Soraya Teston), because she was really good at passing and transitioning into her attack. Also, my middles did a really good job containing her and then Natalie Zoll stepping in. She's a middle normally for us. but she stepped in and set the block on the right side. I'm so proud of these kids. They executed all year long the things that we've asked them to do."
Keri Petro had 17 kills and 24 digs for the Pirates. Faith Purvis added 13 kills and 10 digs. Rylan Miller had six service aces and 25 digs. Freshman setter Analise Smith had 44 assists and 10 digs.
FPC (16-7) defeated West Port 25-10, 25-20, 25-21. Marina Carlisi had eight digs, Dyllis Mballsube seven digs and Faith Dailey six digs. Grace Taylor had 12 assists, Faith Dailey had 11 assists. Alexis Hanna had 11 digs.
Three Bulldogs reached milestones this season — Dailey and Taylor with 1,000 assists in their careers and Hanna, who transferred from Idaho in the summer, with 1,000 digs.
Seabreeze defeated Atlantic for the third time this season, 25-17, 25-28, 25-20. Andie Litz had eight kills, 11 digs and 15 assists. Lilli Litz also had 11 digs. Haven Price had eight blocks.
