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Blue Wave volleyballers do it again — state champs

PK Yonge's state champion volleyball team.

Back row: Eric Marshall (assistant coach), Chad Davis (head coach), Jac’cara Walker, Sammy Mueller, Amanda Phegley, Gabby O’Connell, Kiki Sermons, Joe Deluca (assistant), Donald Guynn (assistant). Front row: Jaq Mueller, Makayla Brouillette, Cameron Childs, Jayda Teasley, Emmani Hill.

 

The news bears repeating.

P.K. Yonge’s girls volleyball team did it again. For the second year in a row the Blue Wave girls’ volleyball team won the Florida high school state championship.

The team capped off its sparkling season by sweeping Palmer Trinity in straight sets in the state Class 3A finals on Nov. 13 at the University of Central Florida’s CFE Arena in Orlando. See the story in the Gainesville Sun. It is the fourth state volleyball championship in Blue Wave history, and follows last year’s Class 4A win.

Displaying grit, dedication and sportsmanship, this Blue Wave team can stake its claim to being one of the best — if not the best — in school history. The Blue Wave’s only loss this season was to Jesuit of Portland, Oregon, in the finals of the Nike Tournament of Champions. The nationally ranked team has won 50 straight against Florida teams.

“There is no arguing how great this team was,” Head Coach Davis told The Gainesville Sun. “It is something I will always look back with pride on.”

Honors

The team was led by senior outside hitter Jac’cara Walker, who was recognized as the Class 3A Volleyball Player of the Year and the runner-up for all classes by the Florida Dairy Farmers.

In his third year as head coach, Davis won both the Class 3A and all-classes Coach of the Year awards.

What’s next?

Several Blue Wave players plan to play at the next level:

  • Walker has committed to play at Marshall University.
  • Senior Gabby O’Connell signed national letter for a full scholarship to the University of North Florida.
  • Senior Sammy Mueller signed with the University of Tampa.
  • Sophomore Amanda Phegley committed to Penn State.

P.K. Yonge is the UF College of Education’s developmental research school. Learn more.

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