2023 high school volleyball playoffs open Tuesday in Jacksonville: See full FHSAA previews
High school volleyball regional quarterfinals
Class 1A-4A: All matches 7 p.m. Tuesday unless noted
REGION 1-4A
Yulee (11-6) at Bishop Kenny (20-7)
The three-time champion Crusaders begin their postseason against a tall Yulee squad that deploys 6-2 starters Emma Cook and Chloe Kaszubinski. Depth and balance are superb for Bishop Kenny, from Mallory Swain at libero to Claudia Stockard at outside hitter.
Baker County (16-5) at North Bay Haven (15-9)
Megan Barton (253 kills) spurs the attack for the Wildcats in their most successful season since 2018. Against North Bay Haven, they'll have to prepare for the tandem of Allison Wit and Lauren Wit, both hitting above .260.
Wolfson (10-5) at Bolles (14-13)
Wolfson ends a nine-year playoff drought with an all-Southside rematch against Bolles, which swept them Oct. 17 with 15 kills from Ashlyn Anderson. Delaney Hayman leads an experienced Wolfpack lineup. The winner plays Friday against Wakulla or South Walton.
How they got here: Ponte Vedra, Creekside, Middleburg, BK among district tournament champions
REGION 1-3A
P.K. Yonge (12-9) at Trinity Christian (22-3)
Hopes are high for Trinity, which brings back not only 400-kill finisher Mari King but also five seniors who helped the team to its best-ever finish in 2022. They'll meet the young Blue Wave, rebounding from an 0-3 start.
Winter Park Trinity Prep (10-13) at Providence (12-12), 6 p.m.
A rematch of the 2022 regionals, when Victoria Hill (329 kills in 2023) led Trinity Prep to the sweep. For the Stallions, sophomore Isabela Lopez accounts for nearly half the team's kills with 527 assists from JU commit Emily Collings.
Episcopal (10-18) at Florida High (22-5), 6 p.m.
Not an easy assignment for the Eagles: Florida High lines up with two college-bound senior stars in Kenzie Hultquist (FSU) and Amelia Wass de Czege (USF), combining for 540 kills. Kathryn Almond (135 kills, 66 blocks) and a solid senior core have helped Episcopal bounce back from a 2-6 start.
REGION 1-2A
Gainesville Countryside Christian (14-3) at St. Johns Country Day (14-7)
Last year, 13 kills from Brynn White helped the Spartans to a playoff sweep against Countryside. Bella Gomez is near 1,800 career St. Johns assists. The winner meets Tallahassee North Florida Christian or No. 1 Gainesville Oak Hall.
Gainesville St. Francis (14-6) at Christ's Church (17-7)
Few Florida players can match the high school experience of the Eagles' Sydney Kambach, who played when CCA beat St. Francis in 2018 districts. Eagles Nadia Mortensen and Julia Howard combine for 472 kills.
Covenant School (17-5) at Harvest Community (20-6)
Senior setter Jacquelyn Barnes (252) helps lead Covenant into a historic regional debut against Harvest, which has won all three 2023 meetings. Harvest setter Peyton Cooper ranks among the area leaders with 574 assists.
Full regional brackets: Who's in, who's out? See the 2023 FHSAA volleyball playoff bracket for Northeast Florida
Class 5A-7A: All matches 7 p.m. Wednesday unless noted
REGION 1-7A
Creekside (11-12) at Winter Park (25-2)
A tough task for the Knights against the red-hot Wildcats and a Miss Volleyball candidate in Cincinnati-committed Fallon Stewart (478 kills, .347 hitting percentage). Junior Vivian Scuteri is the top scorer on Creekside's balanced attack. The winner advances to a Saturday regional semifinal against DeLand or Lake Brantley.
Mandarin (17-6) at Timber Creek (19-8)
Mandarin travels to a Wolves team with three future D-I senior attackers: Stevie Henderson (Winthrop), Dionna Mitchell (Georgetown) and Jayda Redd (Delaware). So the Mustangs' defense, including Erin Dailey and Macy DuBois, must be on alert. The winner gets Spruce Creek or Oviedo Hagerty.
REGION 1-6A
Tallahassee Leon (14-9) at Ponte Vedra (13-13)
A rematch of a 2021 regional final thriller that Ponte Vedra won in five. Watch the matchup down the middle: Leon's Amelia Haggins (224 kills) is headed to Tulane, and Ponte Vedra's Chelsea Sutton is committed to Tennessee. If the Sharks win, they'll play Gulf Breeze or Lynn Haven Mosley.
Fletcher (22-5) at Tallahassee Chiles (22-5)
High scorers collide: The Timberwolves' Kaylin Johnson, Lindsay Smith and Kate Stewart have all topped 200 kills, and Fletcher's Nadia Ewton and Katie Issendorf have more than 300 for the Gateway Conference runners-up. The winner faces Gainesville or Navarre.
REGION 1-5A
Panama City Beach Arnold (14-14) at Middleburg (22-5)
Top-seeded overall in Class 5A, Middleburg is on fire entering the playoffs, led by 336-kill senior Connor Rahn. Arnold brings a high-scoring attacker in junior Zoey Vandel, up to 336 kills. The winner would play Saturday against Tallahassee Lincoln or Choctawhatchee.
Columbia (16-8) at Ridgeview (18-7)
Second-seeded Ridgeview storms into battle with one of the state's top middles in Wright State-bound senior Haley Robinson and eight more seniors who helped reach a regional final in 2022. Sophomore Mylie Fernandez has 680 assists for Columbia.
Pensacola Washington (12-13) at Beachside (21-5)
A historic match for Beachside. Seniors Laney Lipovetsky and Lainie Stapleton help lead a young Barracudas roster that claimed its first district title. For Washington, Hannah Bradley (185 kills, 298 digs) is a top all-around performer.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Northeast Florida high school volleyball: First-round playoff preview
