JACKSONVILLE - Ridgeview and Keystone Heights High volleyball came home with bling last Saturday afternoon, while the Fleming Island Golden Eagles got a little lesson in championship pedigree as area volleyball teams get set to turn the corner on their seasons.

"We played a great first two games, but fell short in the last two games," said Fleming Island coach Amy Yoder, who took her 7-1 Eagles to 4A powerhouse Bishop Kenny last week for a shot at a season confidence boost. "We haven't been challenged like that yet this season."

In the matchup with Bishop Kenny—a 4A Final Four finisher last year and at 8-4 in 2025—Fleming Island stung the Crusaders with a thrilling game 26-24 two win.

"Kaylee Clark came up big on offense with some big points and libero Maddie Culbreth was all over the floor on defense," Yoder said. "They adjusted in the final two games, and we did not. We have a lot of young players and that mental toughness comes with age. We don't get a chance to play them again this season."

For the match, Fleming Island got 16 scoring kills from Lauren Brosky, 12 from Lillie Eason and 11 from Clark. Fleming Island continued with their tough schedule with Ponte Vedra on Sept. 16 in the Fleming Island gym. Ponte Vedra, just 6-6 thus far, was a Class 5A region semifinalist last year and pulled off a somewhat surprising 3-1 win over Middleburg last week.

The Sharks opened the season with three wins but started a gauntlet of a schedule that included losses to 5A champion Chiles and 5A region finalist Beachside around the win over Middleburg. Beachside knocked Middleburg and Fleming Island out of last year's region playoffs, while Chiles ended Ponte Vedra's 2025 season.

Ponte Vedra warmed up for Fleming Island on Sept. 16, with a road trip to 9-2 Providence on Sept. 15. Fleming Island will see Middleburg on Sept. 25 and Providence on Sept. 30.

Middleburg, 6-6, continued their tough schedule with Oakleaf on Sept. 16. They will make a road trip to Chiles before returning home against Fleming Island on Sept. 25.

At the JJVA River City Classic tournament last Saturday, both Keystone Heights and Ridgeview came home with first place trophies in their respective divisions, with both teams playing strong for the three-game weekend.

Ridgeview (24th in 5A) beat Columbia (7-5, 38th in 5A) and 6A-East River (8-6, ranked 34th) with a loss to The Master's Academy (8-5) out of Oviedo, entering this week at 8-3.

For the Panthers, Alyssa Herringdine earned tournament MVP. She and teammate Kara Reed were selected All-Tournament.

Keystone Heights finished with a 4-1 record and are now 10-5. The Lady Indians defeated Bishop Snyder in the championship game with wins over St. Johns Country Day School, Eastside and North Marion, with their lone loss to Snyder in pool play. St. Johns finished third with wins over Rickards, Sandalwood (twice) and University Christian.

Mia Rivera, Kadence Massey and Karleigh Marquart were named All Tournament.
Keystone Heights hitter Rivera finished with 184 total kills for the season after the weekend outing, taking the number one spot in Class 3A; 12th in all of Florida. Keystone Heights is ranked 36th in 3A, with St. Johns Country Day School and Ridgeview both visiting this week on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18. They will face off against Clay on Sept. 22.

Clay, 4-7, also competed and finished sixth with three losses: East River, Union County and Columbia. They had a win over Episcopal. Clay went to the road to Bolles and Bishop Snyder, with a home match with Orange Park on Sept. 18.

Orange Park, 2-10, got their first two wins of the season with victories over Atlantic and P.K. Yonge, and finished 10th at the JJVA River City tournament.