Treasure Coast volleyball teams make semifinals cut

Eight Treasure Coast high school volleyball teams began this week with the hopes of winning a state title after qualifying for the state playoffs. Following Tuesday and Wednesday's opening round matches, that number has been trimmed to five. Vero Beach and Pine School each made it back-to-back years with postseason victories while St. Edward's advanced for the second time in three years. Martin County ended nearly a decade-long drought while Legacy made the most of its playoff debut.

Treasure Coast high school volleyball: 3 local district champions, 3 district runners-up

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Here's a roundup of volleyball regional quarterfinal matches involving Treasure Coast high schools from Tuesday, Oct. 21, and Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Wednesday

Region 2-5A quarterfinals

No. 4 Legacy (22-7) 3, No. 5 South Fork (20-8) 2

Set scores: 19-25, 19-25, 25-16, 25-23, 15-13

The Lions and Bulldogs locked horns in a high-stakes battle for the second time in seven days. Each time, the area’s newest kids on the block emerged on top. The most recent occurrence was in comeback fashion.

In its first-ever state playoff match, Legacy stormed back from an 0-2 hole to outlast South Fork in five sets at home. It is the Lions’ third consecutive victory that went the distance. Just a week prior during the District 8-5A tournament, the Lions defeated the Bulldogs and top-seed John Carroll Catholic to pick up the school’s first-ever district championship in any sport.

Taylor Smith led the victors with 16 kills while Bailey Johanson (12), Lyla Barker-Bray (11) and Sophia Spychalla (10) each were in double figures. Barker-Bray paced Legacy with 24 digs and five service aces while Johanson swatted a team-best six blocks. Meredith Prince recorded 44 assists to go with three blocks, four service aces and 21 digs.

Ryan Connelly led the visitors with 19 kills. Hailee Curl was among four Bulldogs with 10-plus digs, posting a team-high 22. Layali Ibrahim chipped in with 17 assists and four service aces.

Connelly, Curl and Ibrahim are three of seven seniors set to graduate from the South Fork program.

The Lions have won their last 10 matches. They’ll play No. 1 Innovation in a regional semifinal at 2 p.m. Saturday in Orlando.

No. 6 Gateway (19-5) 3, No. 3 John Carroll Catholic (14-4) 1

Set scores: 25-17, 25-23, 19-25, 25-19

The Rams’ tremendous 2025 campaign reached its conclusion following a four-set loss to the Panthers in Kissimmee. Stats were unavailable.

John Carroll Catholic was the road team by virtue of being an at-large team and Gateway winning the District 7-5A championship.

Capturing the program’s highest win total since 2012, the Rams will lose eight seniors due to graduation. The list includes captain libero Kaylee Maikranz and middle blocker Halle Delince, who led the team in kills.

No. 2 Gainesville (18-8) 3, No. 7 Jensen Beach (12-15) 0

Set scores: 25-22, 25-14, 25-20

The Falcons’ season came to an end as they were unable to keep pace with the Hurricanes on the road. Stats were unavailable.

Jensen Beach will say goodbye to four seniors: kills leader Samaya Hennessy, assists leader Jasmine Fortson, Kaylia Brown and Maddie Parr.

Region 2-6A quarterfinals

No. 4 Martin County (18-9) 3, No. 5 Lakeland (12-9) 0

Set scores: 25-14, 25-14, 27-25

It had been nine years since the Tigers could call themselves district champions. Days after checking off that box, Martin County ended another nine-year drought.

The Tigers captured their first state playoff victory since 2016 thanks to a home sweep over the Dreadnaughts. Stats were unavailable.

Martin County earned the right to take on Bloomindale, the region’s No. 1 seed, at 2 p.m. Saturday at Valrico.

Region 2-7A quarterfinals

No. 4 Vero Beach (20-5) 3, No. 5 West Orange (12-8) 0

Set scores: 25-22, 25-21, 25-16

Win away from home? No problem for the No. 4 seed, who picked up a runaway victory over the Warriors in Winter Garden. Despite being the lower seed, West Orange had homecourt advantage by virtue of winning the District 5-7A title and Vero Beach qualifying for the playoffs as an at-large bid.

Stats were unavailable.

Vero is one step away from making consecutive trips to the regional finals. It will have to beat the region’s top seed in order to do so. The team plays at 2 p.m. Saturday at No. 1 Osceola.

Tuesday

Region 2-1A quarterfinals

No. 4 St. Edward’s (16-11) 3, No. 5 Orlando Christian Prep (17-8) 0

Set scores: 25-12, 25-20, 25-15

The Pirates recovered nicely from a hard-fought, five-set loss in the district title match by making swift work of the Warriors in a regional quarterfinal match in Orlando.

Nevin Waddell poured in 17 kills and four service aces to pace the visitors. Margaret Fykes dished out 31 assists while Grace Fykes also put up four service aces to go with a team-high 12 digs.

“The girls went and played the game that me and my coaching staff know they can play,” Pirates head coach Seth Brassard said. “Even though we lost the district final, the team set a goal for itself to try and make it to states this year. … Now, we’re one step closer to our goal.”

Moving onto the regional semifinals for the second time in three years, St. Edward’s will take on the top seed in the Region 2-1A bracket. The Pirates play No. 1 Geneva at 1 p.m. Saturday from Casselberry.

Region 4-1A quarterfinals

No. 2 Pine (18-6) 3, No. 7 Lake Worth Christian (13-15) 0

Set scores: 25-20, 25-22, 25-18

The Knights broke through in 2024 by capturing their state playoff victory in a decade.

Fast forward to 2025, they’ve now won a postseason game in back-to-back years after picking up a sweep over the Defenders in Hobe Sound.

“What stood out was how strong we were mentally,” Pine head coach Devin Mitchell said. “That’s something we’ve worked on all season and it really showed (Tuesday). The girls were having fun, staying composed and it was great to see how far they’ve come.”

Stats were unavailable.

Of all the area teams that advanced to the regional semifinals, Pine is only one that will play at home. The team plays host to No. 3 Miami Westwood Christian at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Knights defeated the Warriors in four sets during the regional quarterfinals last season.

“We’re excited to be at home and have that energy behind us,” Mitchell said. “Hopefully, we can take the next step, win in the semifinal and go farther than we did last year. We’re hungry for that regional title.”