St. Johns spikes: Top teams, players to watch in the 2023 high school volleyball season

The Florida High School Athletic Association volleyball season tips off this week. Here's a look at five teams to watch across St. Johns County.

Find your football schedules here: See full Northeast Florida team-by-team high school schedules for 2023

Bartram Trail

Yes, the Bears lose the excellent graduated combination of Sydney Lewis and Jenna Otts. But senior Lilly DeLamielleure is ready to step up in attack after 180 kills last season. Also watch for senior middle Abby Minor (112 kills, 39 blocks) and rising sophomore Molly Fitzpatrick (95 kills, 40 blocks, .332 hitting percentage) for a Bartram Trail squad that's in the playoff mix year in and year out. Kailee Borgmeyer and Kate Piekarczyk step into expanded roles for their junior seasons.

Beachside

These are exciting times for the Barracudas. The second-year school is celebrating its first college commitment in senior middle blocker Lainie Stapleton, heading to Air Force after 94 kills and 49 blocks in a 15-win debut campaign. They'll also bring back a second senior star in Laney Lipovetsky (94 kills, 62 aces), digs leader Macey Williams and the promising sophomore combination of Erica Duffy (357 assists, 140 digs, 47 aces) and Adriana Jeanpierre (257 kills, 215 digs). This is a team that will score and score some more.

Creekside

There's a big move on the sidelines, with Jessica Sundstrom taking over from longtime leader Megan Bowers, and adjustments to the lineup after the graduation of longtime standouts Tyler Patterson and Viviana Vasquez. But don't expect the Knights to drop out of the playoff chase. Newly committed to Embry-Riddle, junior Sarahbelle Jameson delivers steady points (139 kills last year) for a Knights team that's always in the St. Johns County mix. Killian Burnett and Vivian Scuteri also topped 100 kills last year.

Nease

The Panthers have floated around .500 for the past couple of years, but 2023 might be the breakthrough. A high leaper who influences the game more than her 5-5 frame might suggest, Keerstin Brady enters 2023 as a six-rotation regular on a team with decades of tradition. She recorded a .189 hitting percentage in 2022. Sophia Hayes also boosts the lineup with her versatility, while outside hitter Nova Hewlett and setter/libero Emma Hernesman could make an impact in their freshman year.

Ponte Vedra

It's a season of change for the Sharks. Ponte Vedra must replace the hitter-setter combination of Zeta Washington and Jessica Shattles that ranks among the best tandems in St. Johns County history, as head coach John Goings enters year two on the sidelines after the triple-championship tenure of Robin Mignerey. But there's still scoring power down the middle from Tennessee-committed and nationally-rated senior recruit Chelsea Sutton (146 kills, .439 hitting percentage), while Ava Grall (Gettysburg), Avery Webb and FSU commit Ryan Murphy are among the returning Sharks to see significant action in 2022.

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5 EARLY-SEASON MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Aug. 29: Tocoi Creek at Beachside. The Surf 'N' Turf Bowl moves to the volleyball court as the county's two newest high schools face off. The Barracudas won in four sets last year.

Sept. 5: Creekside at Bartram Trail. A match to circle every year, and they'll collide once again on Sept. 28. It's usually tight: Since 2020, the Longleaf Pine Parkway rivals have split the victories, 4-4.

Sept. 5: St. Augustine at Menendez. Another traditional rivalry, this time from the south of the county as both the Yellow Jackets and Falcons begin their quest to improve from last year.

Sept. 7: Beachside at Ponte Vedra. The Barracudas look promising, but are they good enough to challenge St. Johns County's volleyball giants? This aquatic-themed matchup inside the Shark Tank will be a big one for both schools.

Sept. 7: Nease at St. Augustine. Yes, it's another longtime rivalry for the county's two oldest active public high schools, a series that's now more than four decades old. Nease has won the last four meetings.

2023 FHSAA DISTRICT VOLLEYBALL ASSIGNMENTS

District 1-7A

Atlantic Coast, Bartram Trail, Creekside, Flagler Palm Coast, Mandarin, Sandalwood, Tocoi Creek

District 3-6A

First Coast, Fleming Island, Fletcher, Nease, Oakleaf, Orange Park, Ponte Vedra

District 3-5A

Beachside, Englewood, Parker, Riverside, Stanton, Westside, White

District 4-5A

Clay, Daytona Beach Mainland, Menendez, Middleburg, Ridgeview, Daytona Beach Seabreeze, St. Augustine

District 4-2A

Countryside Christian, Florida Deaf, Gainesville Oak Hall, Peniel Baptist, Gainesville St. Francis, St. Joseph

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school volleyball 2023: St. Johns County players to watch