JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The second round of the high school volleyball playoffs are set, while one area coaching legend is heading into retirement after an iconic career came to a close.
Ponte Vedra and Ridgeview joined seven other area teams in the second round of the state playoffs after winning their opening round matchups on Wednesday night, while Middleburg and its legendary coach Carrie Prewitt closed the book on one of the longest coaching careers in area sports.
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The Sharks, seeded fourth in Region 1-5A, swept fifth-seeded Tallahassee Chiles. In Region 1-6A, sixth-seeded Ridgeview went on the road and beat No. 3 Pensacola’s Booker T. Washington 3-1.
The Sharks (15-6) are in search of their fourth consecutive state championship appearance. They will visit No. 1 seed New Smyrna Beach in the regional semifinals on Saturday. Zeta Washington had 17 kills for Ponte Vedra in the win.
The road ended for Bartram Trail, Creekside, Stanton and Middleburg on Wednesday night. Winter Park swept Creekside and Hagerty swept Bartram in Region 1-7A. Stanton was swept by Choctawhatchee in Region 1-5A. Middleburg dropped a 3-1 match to Ocala Vanguard, a loss that drew to a close the coaching career of Prewitt.
Prewitt’s retirement was coming following the season, her 38th, and the Broncos couldn’t overcome Vanguard to keep it going.
The legendary Middleburg coach won more than a dozen district championships during her tenure and became just the third local coach to surpass 600 wins with a sweep of Episcopal on Sept. 9, 2021. Prewitt ends her career with 631 volleyball coaching victories, a mark that ranks third all-time behind Bolles’ Elise Bush (696 wins) and Fletcher’s Karen Caron (682).
A night earlier, Bishop Kenny, Bolles, Christ’s Church, Fernandina Beach, Harvest Community and St. Johns Country Day all won their opening round matches on Tuesday to advance to Friday night’s regional semifinals.
Tuesday’s first round was just about a perfect performance across the board. All but Fernandina Beach won their openers by sweep. And even the Pirates (20-5) needed just an extra game to end Beachside’s inaugural season with a 3-1 win.
Regional quarterfinals
Wednesday’s results
Region 1-7A
(2) Winter Park 3, (7) Creekside 0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-19).
(3) Hagerty 3, (6) Bartram Trail 0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-15).
Region 1-6A
(4) Ponte Vedra 3, (5) Tallahassee Chiles 0 (25-9, 25-16, 25-12).
Region 1-5A
(1) Choctawhatchee 3, (8) Stanton 0 (25-9, 25-12, 25-16).
(5) Ocala Vanguard 3, (4) Middleburg 1 (25-22, 25-20, 19-25, 25-21).
(6) Ridgeview 3, (3) Booker T. Washington 1 (23-25, 25-13, 25-15, 25-18).
Tuesday’s results
(Seeds and game scores listed in parentheses)
Region 1-4A
(1) Bishop Kenny 3, (8) Baker County 0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-11).
(5) Fernandina Beach 3, (4) Beachside 1.
(3) South Walton 3, (6) Keystone Heights 0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-13).
(2) Bolles 3, (7) Pensacola 0 (25-9, 25-21, 25-19).
Region 1-3A
(2) Trinity Christian 3, Tallahassee Maclay 0 (25-12, 25-11, 25-20).
(3) Trinity Prep 3, Providence 0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-19).
Region 1-2A
(4) Harvest Community 3, Beaches Chapel 0 (25-7, 25-10, 25-23).
(2) Christ’s Church 3, (7) University Christian 0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-10).
(3) St. Johns Country Day 3, (6) Countryside Christian 0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-17).
Regional semifinals
Friday’s schedule, all at 7 p.m. unless indicated
Region 1-4A
(5) Fernandina Beach (20-5) at (1) Bishop Kenny (17-9)
(3) South Walton (16-10) at (2) Bolles (20-7), 5 p.m.
Region 1-3A
(3) Trinity Prep (17-10) at (2) Trinity Christian (24-3), 5 p.m.
Region 1-2A
(4) Harvest (13-9) at (1) Oak Hall (23-4)
(3) St. Johns Country Day (19-5) at (2) Christ’s Church (17-5)
Region 3-1A
(4) Hilliard (9-5) at (1) Aucilla Christian (20-3)
(3) Branford (19-6) at (2) Union County (18-7)
Saturday’s games
Region 1-5A
(6) Ridgeview (17-11) at (2) Tallahassee Lincoln (18-8)
Region 1-4A
(4) Ponte Vedra (15-6) at (1) New Smyrna Beach (21-2)