Pensacola Catholic, Jay volleyball advance to regional semifinals
· Yahoo Sports
All fall, Pensacola Catholic volleyball has tried to play with the same mentality. No let up until a set is over, no matter the score.
Safe to say it's work so far this year. Fresh off a District 1-3A title, the No. 1 seed Crusaders took their first step toward back-to-back Final Fours by sweeping No. 8 Baldwin in the Region 1-3A quarterfinals on Oct. 20.
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Pensacola Catholic (24-4) will play No. 4 Wolfson (20-6) in the Region 1-3A semifinals on Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. The Crusaders join Jay as the other Pensacola area team in the regional semifinals. The Lady Royals will host Chipley in the Rural Region 1 semifinal on Oct. 24 at 2 p.m.
"We went in having the mentality that we're going to come in and play our hardest every set," senior Brandi Lee Rhodes said. "I think being No. 1 in our region now, we have so much confidence and I think what's leading us to the win."
Catholic swept South Walton, a 4A state semifinalist in the District 1-3A final on Oct. 17 and carried momentum from that match into the regional quarterfinals. Baldwin (19-6) rarely threatened the Crusaders outside of early in the third set. Catholic led 15-6 in the first set, then 15-2 in the second set.
The Indians hung around in the third set due to Catholic attack and service errors. But a 5-0 run, including three aces from sophomore Ava Bradley, gave the Crusaders a 9-6 lead and they were never seriously threatened again. A reminder, that even though volleyball is a game of runs, they can't let up with tougher teams ahead the rest of the way.
"I told the girls before the third set....they're going to come out and play with all they got because it might be their last time playing volleyball for some of them," Catholic head coach Clay Carrell said. "There's some of the seniors that may not be playing again. It's the last game of their season, so they're going to come out and give you everything. So don't take it for granted. Don't just take your foot off the gas and sit back. Keep pushing. I think they kept it close and I think we started realizing let's get back to doing our job and get it done."
The Crusaders have got it done 24 times this year, their most wins since 2022, with a deep hitting lineup and solid all-around play. Bradley is the standout at outside hitter, but Rhodes also thrives there and both are six rotation players. Senior Piper Nissley and sophomore Emerson Trahan can strike out of the middle, while junior Angelina Shrout is a threat at opposite hitter.
Senior Jemma Rispoli can swing too when she isn't setting and senior Paige Seuzeneau remains strong at libero, with help in the back row from Bradley and Rhodes.
Catholic has had the goal all year to return to the Final Four, but got an unexpected boost when Santa Fe, the top ranked team in Region 1-3A all year, was bumped into the Open Division, giving the Crusaders homecourt through all three regional rounds if they continue to advance.
That means every team makes the long trip west on I-10, but puts another target on Catholic's back too. Not that the Crusaders mind. They'll just playing to the same standard that's allowed them to be successful all fall.
"We told the girls you got the 1 seed, but that doesn't mean anything," Carrell said. "Everyone's gonna come, and they're going to be playing great. Every team in our region is a good team. You can't just take any one team for granted. You got the one seed for a reasion. Now show everybody and play like you deserve it."
Region 1-6A quarterfinals: No. 1 DeLand 3, No. 8 Navarre 0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-16)
The Raiders (12-13) historic season came to an end. Navarre won its first district title on Oct. 16, beating Pace 3-1 to win the District 1-6A title, and wouldn't have made the state playoffs without that win. Navarre has now lost eight straight state playoff matches.
DeLand (25-3) will host No. 5 Buchholz (14-9) in the Region 1-6A semifinals on Oct. 24. Buchholz swept No. 4 Seminole (25-21, 25-13, 25-20) in the Region 1-6A quarterfinals.
Region 1-5A quarterfinals: No. 4 Middleburg 3, No. 5 Gulf Breeze 0 (25-15, 25-12, 26-24)
The Broncos (17-11) controlled the first two sets before holding off the Dolphins (18-6) in the third set to complete the sweep and end their season.
Gulf Breeze only lead in the first two sets was 3-2 in the first set. The Dolphins led as late as 21-17 in the third set before Middleburg took a 24-21 lead and did enough to close it out. This is the first time Gulf Breeze hasn't won a regional playoff match since 2018, when it didn't qualify. The Dolphins also their streak of seven straight district titles snapped by Niceville on Oct. 17.
Middleburg will play at No. 1 Ponte Vedra (18-4) in the Region 1-5A semifinals on Oct. 24. Ponte Vedra swept No. 8 Leon (25-16, 25-15, 25-17) in the Region 1-5A quarterfinals.
Region 1-4A quarterfinals: No. 2 Arnold 3, No. 7 Booker T. Washington 0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-12)
The Wildcats (12-14) first state playoff trip in three years was a short one. Arnold (18-8) will host No. 3 Choctawhatchee (16-10) in the Region 1-3A semifinals on Oct. 24. The Indians beat Fort Walton Beach in four sets (23-25, 25-21, 25-14, 25-11) in the regional quarterfinals, which was a rematch of the District 1-3A final that Choctaw also won in four sets.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Catholic, Jay volleyball advance to regional semifinals