MIDDLEBURG - With just two weeks or so before districts open up in volleyball, Middleburg Lady Broncos have been stifling competition pretty efficiently as coach Meredith Forkum coyly cites just a "stick with process" mantra.
"We take one match at a time and focus on what is right in front of us, small steps," said Forkum.
With their last loss to 15-1 Tallahassee Chiles, ranked sixth in Florida and No. 1 in Class 5A, on September 7, Middleburg, conversely, 13-3 and ranked second to Chiles in Class 5A and, surprisingly, 24th in Florida, has been stealthily making area teams maybe pay the price of that 24th state ranking with three strong wins in row through September; 3-1 over Fleming Island, 3-0 over Oakleaf and 3-0 over Trinity Christian Academy.
For the Lady Broncos, senior Brooke Forkum (195 Kills) has emerged as the top hitter on offense with Camden Rahn (172 Kills) just a few shots behind her to offer yet another Forkum/Rahn scoring front at the net. Kate Lowery and Olivia Callipo offer solid defense up front with Callipo registering a monster block on Trinity Christian power hitter Amari King in that win. Senior Morgan Padgett achieved her 800th dig while Callipo had her 1500th assist in the past week.
The downside of the momentum shift is that Hurricane Helene has canceled a possible testing of the engines at Venice High School's Battle at the Beach Tournament that could have given Forkum a look at what her team would look like come district time.
At the Battle of the Beach, teams already registered before the cancellation included Ponte Vedra, Bishop Kenny, Trinity Catholic, Chiles, and Doral Academy, with Middleburg originally set to start pool play against 3A Final Four-Lake Highland Prep (10-4), 7A region finalist Venice and 6A region finalist Lourdes Academy.
Middleburg will return home and finish their October slate with Bishop Kenny (13-3), Beachside (11-3), Chiles and Creekside (12-4).
"We will be going to a tournament at JJVA (Jacksonville) instead of the Venice Tournament that will be probably more local teams," said Forkum. "We are disappointed about not being able to face those top teams, but we have four tough matches coming up against Bishop Kenny, Beachside, Chiles, and Creekside so those matches will help prepare us, those are four great teams."
Fleming Island (13-6) and Orange Park have had spurts of greatness as the season has progressed with the Golden Eagles knocking out five straight wins since losses in early September to Middleburg and The Rock. The final win of the five, a 3-2, win over Mandarin may be the match to spurn coach Amy Yoder's squad, who knocked out Trinity Christian 3-0 at their very loud gym.
"I think my girls have found their chemistry and it may have taken a little bit to do so, but with a huge win over Trinity, taking a set from Middleburg, and coming out on top of Mandarin has given my girls the confidence to take on a tough road ahead in districts.," said Yoder. "We look forward to bumping heads again with Middleburg with hopefully a different outcome this time."
The win, led by Yoder's front line of Emily Topp (117 Kills), Kaylee Kirkland (103 Kills), and Savannah Jackson (78 Kills) seemed to frustrate the TCA defense with their accuracy while Topp and Lauren Brosky kept King off her game on defense.
"Emily Topp has been a top performer for us all season," said Yoder. "Kaylee Kirkland came out this season swinging. She puts balls away when we need her to and these hitters compliment one another so well along with Savannah Jackson being able to power through a block and swing over a block with her incredible vertical. These three girls are seniors and they have truly made a statement their senior season so far."
Fleming Island, with a possible district 3-5A tournament rematch with Middleburg, and a strong 3-2 win over Mandarin (Topp seven blocks, 10 Kills) will roll into districts after games against St. Johns Country Day School, Providence, Bolles, and Clay.
"When we played Trinity we had a great block up against top hitter Amare King," said Yoder. "When we played Mandarin we had a great block up as well. I think our block is what frustrates hitters and that's going to be a huge emphasis moving forward and taking on these stronger offenses."
Also in the tournament docket will be a surprising Orange Park team that opened with Creekside, a loss, then rattled off slates of wins around losses against the likes of top-ranked teams like 6A-Viera (ranked 23rd in 6A), 2A-Providence (10-4)and 3A-Episcopal (12-9) with a rematch win over Bishop Snyder the most recent on September 24.
Orange Park coach Scott Conklin has been led by senior hitter Ryanne Robinson, 211 Kills thus far, who had pounded her 1,000th kill in the win over Bishop Snyder with senior Leilani Smith hitting for 106 kills.
"We talked about what this team is capable of before we went five games with Fleming Island," said Orange Park coach Scott Conklin. "I think that game shows what we are capable of. Ryanne is a great hitter and Leilani, who was a middle hitter all last season, has progressed to become a solid outside hitter. Rylynn Robinson is a tough libero and she and Hailey Ingram are a good combo on the defensive back line."
Also in district 3-5A with Middleburg and Orange Park are Ridgeview (4-17) and Clay (3-14) plus ED White (2-9-0).
Ridgeview is dangerously close to playing with the excitement of their coach, Jauhna Smith, with Maddie Roach (99 Kills) and Katie Cole (165 Kills) capable of controlling games above the net. Cole exploded with games of 15 and 10 kills against Bishop Kenny and Jupiter, both losses, with 21 kills against Trinity Christian on September 4.
With none of the five teams in St. Johns Country Day School's district 3-1A; the Lady Spartans look to have enough momentum and enough of coach Jenna Williams' expertise to walk away with that district title.
Williams, who has quietly and steadily gotten quality performances from her very young team, with her three seniors; Brynn White, Angelica Yepez and Hadley Dantzler being patient in the development of the team. Sophomore Kendall Proffitt and Dantzler both provide good athleticism at the net for kills and blocks.
Oakleaf coach Jamie Reed has had a rough last 10 days with four losses, among them Middleburg and Bolles, but the Knights are ornery in their attack and may also be a surprise team in districts.
"I truly believe this team is as strong as ever just keeping our minds right and we will surprise many opponents," said Reed. "Key players that keep us going is Jiyanna Rivera, she is putting the offense in great positions and never backs down on defense, Gabrielle Humbles who is extremely athletic and strong leading us in kills and putting a wall up for any right sides. Defense is led by Kelsey Joshua, not many balls are getting down around her, and she is pushing the rest of my defense to be better and better!"
The Knight's schedule doesn't get easier with Nease, Mandarin (11-4), Fernandina Beach, Fletcher, Episcopal and Bartram Trail ending the season.
Keystone Heights (6-12), with a win over Baker County on Tuesday, has Palatka, Clay, Newberry, West Nassau and Bradford to finish.
Newberry and Palatka will be key district 5-3A games for the Lady Indians.
Clay, 3-14, has some winnable games in their last few weeks with the Blue Devils finishing with Fleming Island on October 8. The Blue Devils are led by senior Gia Thornton's 84 Kills and junior Myla Barker's 81 Kills.