Varsity 4 Super 6 volleyball: Beachside moves to top spot as district tourneys arrive

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The News4JAX Varsity 4 Super 6 high school volleyball rankings will be published each Wednesday during the regular season. Records are through Oct. 8 games.

Varsity 4 Super 6 volleyball rankings

Rank, school, record, classification

1. (3) Beachside (15-3, Class 5A)

Notable wins: Bolles, Creekside, Flagler Palm Coast, Harvest. Middleburg, New Smyrna Beach, Ponte Vedra, Providence, St. Augustine, Trinity Christian.

Glance: For the first time in more than a year, the Super 6 has a new No. 1 team. The Barracudas have won four straight, including a surprising sweep of previous No. 1 Middleburg. Beachside is the first local team to hand the reigning state champion Broncos a loss in more than a year. Beachside has been steady all season. They atoned for a loss to Ponte Vedra with a sweep of the Sharks last month. Their only other local loss was a tough 3-2 to previous No. 2 Bishop Kenny. This is a team on the rise and don’t be shocked to see Beachside and Middleburg squaring off for a spot in the state semifinals. Adriana Jeanpierre (243 kills) is rapidly heading to the 300-kill mark. Her 331 last year is within reach. District tournaments begin Monday. Mollie VanDeusen (151 kills) and Erica Duffy (103 kills) are also in triple digits.

2. (1) Middleburg (19-4, Class 5A)

Notable win: Bishop Kenny (twice), Bob Jones (Ala.), Fleming Island, Fletcher, Jackson Academy (Miss.), Ponte Vedra, Providence, Timber Creek, Trinity Christian.

Glance: The Broncos went 6-1 since our last Super 6, including their second sweep of Bishop Kenny in four days and a sweep of Fletcher. The surprise was a sweep at the hands of Beachside, Middleburg’s first loss to a local program since Trinity Christian on Sept. 26, 2023. That nudges the Broncos down a spot, but that’s nothing to be concerned about. Middleburg, Beachside and Ponte Vedra are three of the best teams in Region 1-5A. Brooke Forkum (294 kills) and Camden Rahn (263 kills) are mashing the ball. Forkum passed the 1,000 career kill milestone since our last Super 6.

3. (4) Ponte Vedra (13-4, Class 5A)

Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Beachside, Bolles, Episcopal, Harvest, Jupiter, Providence, Tocoi Creek, Trinity Christian.

Glance: The Sharks went 1-1 since our last Super 6, edging Bishop Kenny in a 3-2 and then losing to an always tough Trinity Christian in a surprising sweep. Leah Grall (136 kills) and Ryan Murphy (103 kills) are in the triple digits to lead the attack. Railey Player (98 kills) should get there, too, during the district tournament. Avery Webb (231 digs), Haydin Froehlich (252 assists) and Murphy (218 assists) are all powering this versatile squad.

4. (2) Bishop Kenny (18-6, Class 4A)

Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Beachside, Bolles (twice), Creekside, Fleming Island, Fletcher, Gainesville, Providence, Wesley Chapel, Windermere.

Glance: The Crusaders went 5-3 since our last Super 6, with a couple Ls to Middleburg and then one to Ponte Vedra. Their best wins in that stretch were over Bolles and Fletcher. Olivia Ryno (214 kills) went over the 200-kill mark since our last Super 6. Sofia Muino (172 kills) could hit that number during the district tournament. Alexis Sowers (280 digs) and Caroline Snyder (350 assists) are also on the ascent in those categories.

5. (T6) Creekside (14-4, Class 7A)

Notable wins: Atlantic Coast, Bartram Trail (twice), Bishop Snyder, Bolles, Fleming Island (twice), New Smyrna Beach, Orange Park, Tocoi Creek.

Glance: Just one match for the Knights since our last update, a sweep of Trinity Christian. Vivian Scuteri (177 kills), Sarahbelle Jameson (153 kills), Bridget Spees (119 kills) and Addison Chapman (91 kills) lead a balanced attack. Expect the Knights to win the District 1-7A tournament next week.

6. (T6) Fleming Island (16-6, Class 5A)

Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Bishop Snyder, Bolles, Harvest, Mandarin, New Smyrna Beach, Orange Park, Providence, Santa Fe, Tocoi Creek, Trinity Christian.

Glance The Golden Eagles are the area’s hottest team, stretching their winning streak to eight with wins over Bolles and Clay since our last Super 6. Lillie Eason has 184 kills and should crack the 200 mark during the district tournament. Kaylee Kirkland (168 kills), Emily Topp (147 kills), Savannah Jackson (105 kills) and Lauren Brosky (103 kills) give the Golden Eagles five players with triple-digit numbers.

Dropped out

Fletcher (17-5, Class 6A).

Teams to watch

Atlantic Coast (13-7, Class 7A); Baker County (10-5, Class 4A); Baldwin (18-3, Class 3A); Columbia (12-8, Class 5A); Duval Charter (19-7, independent); Episcopal (13-11, Class 3A); Flagler Palm Coast (15-6, Class 7A); Fletcher (17-5, Class 6A); Harvest Community (15-8, Class 1A); Mandarin (15-5, Class 7A); Matanzas (10-11, Class 6A); Oakleaf (11-12, Class 6A); Orange Park (9-11, Class 5A); Providence (12-5, Class 2A); Tocoi Creek (12-8, Class 6A); Trinity Christian (9-14, Class 2A); Union County (14-8, Class 1R); Wolfson (13-1, Class 3A).