FLEMING ISLAND - Middleburg High traveled to a super powerful volleyball gym in Venice over the past weekend to take on a handful of state powerhouses while Fleming Island stayed closer to home to defeat one of the historically strongest programs in Florida as both teams had their sights set on a thunderous meeting at the Carrie Prewitt Gym at Middleburg High on Thursday, September 25.

The match was a sneak peek at what may be a return to last year's district 3-5A championship match won by Middleburg 3-0, but with plenty of nuances this year to make the game even more tumultuous.

First, the Ponte Vedra factor; the Sharks, ranked ninth in 5A, thumped Middleburg 3-1 on September 9, but the Broncos and coach Meredith Forkum kept the competition top of the line in the past two weeks prior to the September 25 meeting. Middleburg, ranked eighth in 5A, traveled to Venice for a high-octane tournament of championship level teams including Lake Highland Prep (3A champions), 7A-Palm Harbor University (13-6, region semis), Seacrest Country Day (5-12), Bishop Kenny (16-4, ranked No. 5 in 4A) and Chiles, ranked No. 1 in 5A at 18-1, for the second of three meetings.

Middleburg (10-8) traveled to Chiles on Tuesday, September 23, then returned to host Fleming Island.

Middleburg came home from Venice with a loss to Lake Highland Prep and Chiles, both defending state champions.

One other area school in the rankings is Beachside at number two in 5A at 13-1.
Just a week or so ago, Bishop Kenny dismantled the Fleming Island backline to win a 3-1 match, lost to Chiles 3-0, then beat Santa Fe 3-1. Santa Fe, on September 2, beat Fleming Island 3-1.

Not that any of these games means much as for preparing for September 25, the level of play at both programs will make the game interesting at the least.

On September 25 who knows which teams will show up; the power front battle at the net between Lauren Brosky and Camden Rahn, with Maysie Bador and Rahn named All Tournament in Venice and Kaylee Clark, who has emerged as a big basher for scores for Fleming Island.

In the backline seems to be the vulnerability as both teams have been challenged by big swingers on the other side and the liberos; Chloe McWatters for Middleburg and either Hanna Kophamer or Maddie Culbreth for Fleming Island, could the key to the front-end power kills. Rahn and Kate Lowery have been piling up digs on the back line for the Bronco defense which with Lillie Eason getting served to in the Bishop Kenny loss keeping her from patrolling the net.
More importantly, Fleming Island senior Hazel Williams has been laser accurate with 214 assists (just 11 errors) to the front net; surpassing 1500 for her career recently.

Down south at Keystone Heights, coach Kaitlyn Walker has the Lady Indians at 11-6 and with enough firepower to challenge for a district title with two tough wins over St. Johns Country Day School, a draw with a good Bishop Snyder squad and a 3-0 loss to a quickly dangerous Ridgeview team, leading into a week with Clay and Orange Park before a second look at Union County and a district game with Newberry; both earlier losses.

In the state leading Kill numbers, junior Mia Rivera is at 219 Kills for the 3A lead and 18th in Florida.

On the flip side, 219 kills don't come without a great setter and Kayleigh Marquart has put up 426 assists for the Lady Indians. On the dig end, Kadence Massey and Bella Cumbo are both about 130 retrievals to get the ball to the net.
Ridgeview coach Sarah Anderson has said her team is getting organized and ready for district play. The Lady Panthers have won four of their last six games with losses to Trinity Christian Academy and The Masters Academy. Bishop Kenny had a Sept. 23 Road game that will tell the tale on the Anderson prophecy.

Clay High got a nice win over a Bishop Snyder team (10-6) last week and will have played Keystone Heights and Ridgeview this week for a late season test. Bishop Snyder had a Chipoletti on the roster; freshman Harper Chipoletti, daughter to Fleming Island coach Derek Chipoletti, and in the stands was the father of Fleming Island football Neal Chipoletti. On the microphone for Snyder announcing rosters was none other Ridgeview High great Anyssa Guzman, a JV coach.

St. Johns Country Day School is at 5-7 with a three-game losing streak into this week with games at Episcopal and against Global Charter.

Oakleaf, 7-7, had just Bartram Trail on Thursday, Sept. 25, with a road trip to Bolles to start October. Coach Jamie Reed has two 102 Kill slashers in Gabrielle Humbles and Morgan Ansley.

Orange Park is at 2-14 with Emma Weber leading scorer with 71 kills. Coach Scott Conkley has three hitters with 60-plus kills: Kai Longmire, Camryn Hiscox and Braylee Absher.