After four years of battling the same teams in the district, area volleyball teams will get a fresh start as the Florida High School Athletic Association has reshuffled and finalized the districts for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
The district realignments were not the only changes coming as volleyball drops from nine classifications to seven as well, something that needed to be done as well.
Here is a run down of how each district looks and what’s changed.
District 1-7A
Mandarin, Oakleaf, Nease, Bartram Trail, Sandalwood, Flagler Palm Coast
Outlook: For years the trio of Mandarin, Sandalwood and Palm Coast were the lone area representatives in the biggest classification along with Spruce Creek and Deland; however that will change as Oakleaf, Bartram Trail and Nease join. Making this district even tougher than usual with the addition of power Bartram Trail, which has made several lengthy playoff runs. The addition of the three teams also brings some intriguing rivalries with it as well as Mandarin, Nease and Bartram Trail are pretty close to each other.
District 2-6A
Columbia, Chiles, Lincoln, Leon
Outlook: What a change for Columbia, who goes from an all Ocala-Gainesville district the last four years to an all Tallahassee area district, including being in a district with a Leon team coming off a Final Four berth this past fall.
District 3-6A
Englewood, First Coast, Fletcher, Fleming Island, Creekside, Atlantic Coast
Outlook: With Bartram Trail out of the district, the two playoff spots will be up for grabs between Fletcher, Fleming Island, Creekside and Atlantic Coast making this one of the more competitive districts in the area by far.
District 3-5A
Westside, Stanton, Lee, Ridgeview, Paxon, Orange Park, Middleburg
Outlook: The four-time consecutive district champions from Ridgeview will likely be the favorites to win the title again but it won’t be easy with county rivals Orange Park and Middleburg standing in the way as well as new district opponents Stanton, Lee, Paxon and Westside.
District 4-5A
Parker, St. Augustine, Seabreeze, Ponte Vedra, Matanzas, Clay
Outlook: Definitely the most traveled district as the district stretches out from Arlington to Green Cove Springs to St. Augustine to al the way to Daytona Beach. Ponte Vedra is the overwhelming favorite, while the other four battle for the runner up spot.
District 3-4A
Eastside, Baker County, Bradford, Fernandina Beach, West Nassau, Yulee, Keystone Heights
Outlook: Much like 4-5A, this one is also spread out but not as bad covering Gainesville, Starke, Keystone and most of Nassau County. The good thing is it brings attention to several rivalries such as Fernandina Beach-West Nassau and Keystone-Bradford while bringing old ones back such as Bradford-Baker County. This might be one of the more intriguing districts with so many small towns and no powers in it.
District 4-4A
Bolles, Bishop Kenny, Raines, Ribault, White
Outlook: The good news is we get to see area powers Bolles and Bishop Kenny meet likely twice and in the district tournament; however the bad news the rest of the district isn’t that great and makes this a two team race for the next two years.
District 9-4A
Palatka, Pedro Menendez, Port Orange Atlantic, Umatilla, Eustis, Tavares, Mount Dora
Outlook: Have to wonder what the FHSAA was thinking here as not only was both Palatka and Menendez placed in a district with a long trip to Port Orange but several trips to Lake County as well; they were also placed in District 9 which puts them in Region 3 of the classification as well.
District 2-3A
Wolfson, University Christian, Trinity, Providence, Episcopal, Baldwin
Outlook: The trio of U.C., Trinity and Providence are still together and the addition of Episcopal makes it a solid foursome in the district and a fun one to keep an eye on.
District 3-3A
St. Joseph, Father Lopez, Trinity Catholic, Pierson Taylor, Interlachen
Outlook: They definitely didn’t do any favors for St. Joseph who probably should have been placed in 2-3A but instead got put in 3-3A with Daytona Father Lopez and Pierson Taylor both out of Daytona and state power Ocala Trinity Catholic.
District 2-2A
Beaches Chapel, Impact Christian, Harvest Community, Parsons Christian, Eagles View
Outlook: Defending Class 2A state runner-up Harvest Community is no longer in a three team district but in a five team district and will face more tough challenges.
District 3-2A
First Coast Christian, St. Johns Country Day, Peniel, Florida Deaf, Christ’s Church
Outlook: Good news for both St. Johns Country Day and Christ’s Church, no more trips to South Daytona, Lake Mary or Gainesville anymore in the district. Both were placed in a more centralized district within close proximities to each other outside of a trip to Palatka to play Peniel.
District 5-1A
Taylor County, Hamilton County, Hilliard, Lafayette, Madison County
Outlook: Hilliard didn’t get any favors by being placed in a district that expands as far west as Taylor County and Madison County, as well as trips to Hamilton and Lafayette, which are not that far from Madison and Taylor.
District 6-1A
Bell, Branford, Dixie, Fort White, Union County
Outlook: For both Fort White and Union County, their placement wasn’t that bad with trips to nearby Branford, Bell and Dixie County.
District 8-1A
Crescent City, Fort Meade, Hawthorne, Wildwood
Outlook: A trip to Fort Meade will be brutal but close trips to Hawthorne and Wildwood are definitely welcome.
Volleyball Final Four on Saturday
6A: Bishop Kenny at Santa Fe
5A: Episcopal at Trinity Catholic
4A: Providence at Shorecrest Prep
3A: Christs Church at Bishop McLaughlin
2A: Eagles View at Harvest Community— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) November 7, 2018
