JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Bishop Kenny is the last area team standing in the high school volleyball playoffs.
The Crusaders reached their 16th state semifinal under coach Suzanne Winkler with a 3-1 win over top-seeded South Walton on Wednesday night in the Region 1-4A final. Kenny’s win, a 25-16, 18-25, 25-19, 25-15 decision, sends it to the final four for the fourth time in the 2020 decade. The Crusaders (23-6) won the state championship in 2020 and then lost to eventual state champ Santa Fe in the regional finals the following year. Kenny has reached the final four the three seasons since that third round loss.
Kenny is the No. 2 seed and will face No. 3 Mater Lakes Academy on Nov. 7 at Polk State College. Crusaders rival Orlando Bishop Moore is the top seed and will face No. 4 Lemon Bay, a darkhorse team that surged through the state tournament after entering the playoffs with a losing record.
Beachside’s best season in its short history ended with a 3-1 loss to powerhouse Chiles in Region 1-5A. The Barracudas knocked off reigning state champ Middleburg in the second round. Beachside ended the season ranked No. 1 in the News4JAX Super 6.
Regional finals
Wednesday’s games
Region 1-5A
(1) Tallahassee Chiles 3, (3) Beachside 1 (29-27, 25-15, 25-27, 25-17).
Region 1-4A
(2) Bishop Kenny 3, (1) South Walton 1 (25-16, 18-25, 25-19, 25-15).
Tuesday’s results
Region 1-1A
(1) St. John Lutheran 3, (2) Harvest Community 0 (25-15, 25-11, 25-14).
Region 3-1R
(1) Branford 3, (3) Union County 2 (25-19, 25-14, 17-25, 19-25, 17-15).
Regional semifinals results
Region 1-5A
(1) Chiles 3, (4) Ponte Vedra 0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-19).
(3) Beachside 3, (2) Middleburg 1 (18-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-22).
Region 1-4A
(2) Bishop Kenny def. (3) Pensacola by forfeit
(1) South Walton 3, (5) Yulee 2 (25-17, 25-15, 25-18).
Region 1-3A
(1) North Bay Haven 3, (4) Bolles 2 (12-25, 25-22, 25-16, 22-25, 15-7).
Region 1-2A
(2) Orangewood Christian 3, (6) Trinity Christian 0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-18).
Region 1-1A
(1) St. John Lutheran 3, (5) St. Johns Country Day 0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-10).
(2) Harvest Community 3, (3) Meadowbrook Academy 0 (25-22, 25-9, 25-18).
Region 3-1R
(3) Union County 3, (2) Lafayette 1 (25-19, 25-20, 26-28, 26-24).
Regional quarterfinal results
Region 1-7A
(4) Hagerty 3, (5) Creekside 0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-17).
(3) Lake Brantley 3, (6) Mandarin 0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-16).
Region 1-6A
(1) Gulf Breeze 3, (8) Fletcher 0 (25-8, 25-8, 25-16).
Region 1-5A
(4) Ponte Vedra 3, (5) Mosley 0 (25-19, 30-28, 25-22).
(2) Middleburg 3, (7) Tallahassee Leon 0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-19).
(3) Beachside 3, (6) Fleming Island 0 (25-16, 25-10, 25-13).
Region 1-4A
(1) South Walton 3, (8) Baker County (25-12, 25-8, 25-15).
(5) Yulee 3, (4) West Florida 0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-22).
(2) Bishop Kenny 3, (7) Suwannee 0 (25-10, 25-7, 25-13).
Region 1-3A
(1) North Bay Haven 3, (8) Baldwin 0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-13).
(4) Bolles 3, (5) Wolfson 1 (16-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-18).
(2) Pensacola Catholic 3, (7) Fernandina Beach 1 (25-12, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18).
(3) Florida High 3, (6) Episcopal 0 (25-15, 25-21, 26-24).
Region 2-3A
(3) McKeel Academy 3, (6) Interlachen 1 (23-25, 25-9, 25-19, 25-13).
Region 1-2A
(1) Trinity Catholic 3, (8) Bishop Snyder 0 (25-11, 25-6, 25-17).
(5) Oak Hall 3, (4) Providence 0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-18).
(6) Trinity Christian 3, (3) Foundation Academy 2 (25-19, 19-25, 25-22, 18-25, 15-10).
Region 1-1A
(5) St. Johns Country Day 3, (4) Beaches Chapel 0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-20).
(2) Harvest Community 3, (7) Christ’s Church 0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-17).
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