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Unveiling the 2024 Volusia-Flagler All-Area Beach Volleyball Team

chris vinel, daytona beach news-journal
·4 min read

The New Smyrna Beach Barracudas made their annual trip to Tallahassee again in 2024.

They didn’t claim their third straight state championship. But even with a different lineup than their title teams from 2022 and 2023, they went 16-3 and ranked third in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s final rankings after the district tournaments in April. Of course, the Barracudas won their league and ended up in the first round of the state tournament.

Spruce Creek again met the Barracudas in the district finals and the second round of regionals. The Hawks closed their season with a 16-3 record — with all three losses occurring against NSB —  and sat second among local clubs in the FHSAA standings.

DeLand remained the area’s third-ranked team despite battling through a tougher schedule than the previous two years. The Bulldogs joined New Smyrna Beach and Spruce Creek in the regional postseason. Atlantic posted its first winning season (10-8), and Flagler Palm Coast played its first season, period.

The sport continues to grow, locally and beyond.

The 2024 Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards.
The 2024 Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards.

The Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards is proud to announce the pair of the year nominees for beach volleyball. The winners will be announced during the live show on Monday, June 3, at the Ocean Center.

The show is presented with the support of Halifax Health.

During the live show, athletes of the year in 30 state-sanctioned sports will be honored. In addition, top teams, coaches and overall athletes will be honored as will a Courage Award winner.

Nominated athletes who RSVP will receive a complimentary ticket to the event here, thanks to sponsors: RSVP here for the 2024 Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards.

Tickets for the public are on sale here: 2024 Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards Tickets (enmotive.com).

For more information about the show, including links to other sports nominees and to opt into email updates, visit its website and follow it on Facebook.

The Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.

Let’s meet the nominees.

Nominees

Gabrielle Bissell and Brianna Luoma, New Smyrna Beach: During their first year as partners, Bissell and Luoma did not face any growing pains for the state-qualifying Barracudas. They rattled off a 19-0 record at Line 1. Luoma, a senior, finished her high school career 69-0.

New Smyrna Beach's Bri Luoma hits the ball over the net during a match against Gulf Breeze at New Smyrna Beach High School, Thursday, March 21, 2024.
New Smyrna Beach's Bri Luoma hits the ball over the net during a match against Gulf Breeze at New Smyrna Beach High School, Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Rebecca Boone and Corrine Glasnak, Spruce Creek: Boone and Glasnak amassed a 16-3 record at Line 2, going undefeated against all opponents except New Smyrna Beach.

Naia Bubaloni and Lydia Spencer, New Smyrna Beach: Bubaloni and Spencer put together a 14-2 season at Line 3 for the Barracudas. They were undefeated against Volusia-Flagler competition.

Taylor Fonseca and Annabelle Gentry, Spruce Creek: The sophomores recorded the most wins of any pair for the Hawks, who advanced to the second regional match. Fonseca and Gentry went 17-0 at Line 4. They moved to Line 3 for the postseason and ended 1-1.

Spruce Creek's Annabelle Gentry sets up a shot for teammate Taylor Fonseca during practice, Thursday, April 4, 2024, at Spruce Creek High School.
Spruce Creek's Annabelle Gentry sets up a shot for teammate Taylor Fonseca during practice, Thursday, April 4, 2024, at Spruce Creek High School.

Kaelyn Fredette-Huffman and Libby Nickels, New Smyrna Beach: Another Barracuda duo that was unbeaten against local foes, Fredette-Huffman and Nickels charged to a 14-2 tally in the second slot.

New Smyrna Beach's Kaelyn Fredette-Huffman (10) and Libby Nickels (5) high five after a point against Spruce Creek during the District 7-1A finals, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at New Smyrna Beach High School.
New Smyrna Beach's Kaelyn Fredette-Huffman (10) and Libby Nickels (5) high five after a point against Spruce Creek during the District 7-1A finals, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at New Smyrna Beach High School.

Ella Pringle and Alison Bierwagen, DeLand: As the Bulldogs’ top pair, the juniors compiled a 6-2 record, with their only defeats being against New Smyrna Beach. Pringle also notched three wins with other partners, and Bierwagen added one.

DeLand's Alison Bierwagen (8) dives for a ball against Spruce Creek during the District 7-1A semifinals, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at New Smyrna Beach High School.
DeLand's Alison Bierwagen (8) dives for a ball against Spruce Creek during the District 7-1A semifinals, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at New Smyrna Beach High School.

Other Athletes of Note

Riley Bennett and Logan Milan, Spruce Creek: Rounding out Spruce Creek’s top five, the sophomores racked up a 15-4 record.

Gabby Conway and Ella Dietrich, Spruce Creek: Conway and Dietrich, both seniors, concluded their high school careers with a 13-6 season in the No. 1 slot.

Spruce Creek's Gabby Conway sets up a shot for Ella Dietrich during practice, Thursday, April 4, 2024, at Spruce Creek High School.
Spruce Creek's Gabby Conway sets up a shot for Ella Dietrich during practice, Thursday, April 4, 2024, at Spruce Creek High School.

Abrie Green and Ava Olivieri, New Smyrna Beach: Green and Olivieri finished their junior seasons 6-6 in the No. 4 position.

New Smyrna Beach's Ava Olivieri dives for the ball during a match against Gulf Breeze at New Smyrna Beach High School, Thursday, March 21, 2024.
New Smyrna Beach's Ava Olivieri dives for the ball during a match against Gulf Breeze at New Smyrna Beach High School, Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Skylar Johnston and Mia Mayberry, Spruce Creek: The seniors starred with a 14-3 record at Line 3, bringing their season total to 14-5.

Bailey Jones and Teagan Lux, New Smyrna Beach: As the Barracudas’ fives, the sophomores charged to a 12-4 record.

Kenna Kirshy and Lily Puritis, Flagler Palm Coast: Kirshy and Puritis formed the Bulldogs’ top duo during the program’s first year of existence. With no previous beach volleyball experience, the seniors were 10-5.

Top Coach

Jonathan Cunningham, New Smyrna Beach: Cunningham’s Barracudas still advanced to their third state tournament in a row despite losing six of their top 10 players from their 2023 lineup. They also captured their third consecutive District 7-1A crown and finished 16-3.

Honorable Mention

DeLand: Lilly Darlington, Deanna Disinger, Kendall Ezell, Erynn Gotsch, Emily Lamb, Ava Scott, Elisa Stoltzfus, Victoria Stoltzfus, Emily Thornton, Emma Van Deusen

Matanzas: Keri Petro

Seabreeze: Carley Bandell, Maggie Harris

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia-Flagler All-Area: Meet the 2024 Beach Volleyball Team