REGION 1-2A
If Bishop Kenny can duplicate its opening first-set points Tuesday night for the rest of postseason, Suzanne Winkler will be one happy coach.
But the Crusaders needed a response from a second-set slump for the 20-time final-four qualifiers to put away a stubborn Yulee 25-12, 25-22, 25-11 in Tuesday night’s Florida High School Athletic Association Region 1-4A volleyball first round.
Junior Olivia Ryno led with 10 kills for Bishop Kenny, which brought full energy to the opening set before falling behind 7-2 in the second. Yulee (12-6) continued to lead until a closing 4-0 run pushed Bishop Kenny in front.
“You come out with so much emotion and so much fire, and that adrenaline’s picking up where it should be, and then sometimes you can get a little comfortable… we’ve got to work on that, especially for the future,” Winkler said.
The win on the scoreboard also included a key loss for Bishop Kenny (21-7), which advances to Friday night’s second round against North Bay Haven. Senior libero Mallory Swain, who ranked second in Northeast Florida in digs, went down in the second set with an apparent lower leg or knee injury and did not return.
Bishop Kenny’s senior-heavy lineup helped clear the obstacles. Claudia Stockard tallied 14 digs and five aces and Lizzy Austin provided 20 assists.
“I’m glad to see [our seniors] kind of step up, take control and push forward,” Winkler said.
North Bay Haven (16-9) ended the season of Baker County in a marathon, 19-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-16, 15-13. The Wildcats close at 16-6.
Ashlyn Anderson led with nine kills and Sophia Albaugh added seven as Bolles (15-12) moved on, 25-15, 25-23, 2520 against visiting Wolfson (10-6). Gracie Arnett had 19 assists and Penelope Kavalieros got 17 digs for the Bulldogs, who travel Friday to the Panhandle against South Walton.
REGION 1-3A
Top-seeded Trinity Christian rolled through its opener with a 25-17, 25-18, 25-13 sweep over P.K. Yonge (12-10), staying on course in Class 3A.
The Conquerors (23-3) advance to an all-Jacksonville matchup on Friday against Providence (13-12). The Stallions swept 25-16, 25-15, 25-14 past Winter Park Trinity Prep (10-14).
Episcopal’s season came to an end in Tallahassee with a 25-11, 25-16, 25-18 loss to Florida High (23-5), which got 17 kills, 22 assists and 14 digs from Florida State commit Kenzie Hultquist. The Eagles finish at 10-19.
Christ’s Church (18-7) had no trouble in its postseason opener against Gainesville St. Francis (14-7), powering to the 25-7, 25-6, 25-11 victory. Nadia Mortensen led with 11 kills, Noelle Kirkland got 15 digs and Sydney Kambach contributed 26 assists.
The Eagles advance to a Friday night home matchup against Harvest Community (21-6), which won 25-12, 25-15, 25-10 against first-time regional qualifier Covenant (17-6).
Also moving on is St. Johns Country Day (15-7), winner in a 25-18, 25-16, 25-19 sweep of
Countryside Christian (14-4). The Spartans move on to a Friday trip to No. 1 seed Gainesville
Oak Hall.