Volleyball Opens Season at Home

Bring in The Newcomers:

The Manatees will be without 12 players as they have graduated and/or continued playing volleyball collegiately: Bailee Perry, Kloe Pinto, Amee Beedle, Alannah McCaughey, Rachel Carroll, Elise Bakken, Isabella Rebimbas, Teresa Briefeneder, Shelby Pillow, Caelan Cook, Katie Keefe and Emily Lyons.

Bobo-McKenzie was able to bring in nine newcomers to join the Manatees for the 2024 season as well as three returners.

Scouting Indian River State:

Indian River State is coming off of finishing last season 7-16 overall with a 1-13 record in the Citrus Conference before they dropped down to the Sun Lakes Conference this year. They are lead by first-year head coach Erin Ergle, who was the assistant coach for Indian River State last season.

The Pioneers are coming off of opening their first six matches of the 2024 season.  At the Viking Invitational in Leesburg, they would sweep Bishop State Community College (3-1), USC Lancaster (3-0), #16 Cape Fear Community College (3-0) and College of Southern Maryland (3-0) before falling in their home opener to Hillsborough (3-2) and Santa Fe (3-2). Prior to facing SCF, they will face Pasco-Hernando State Wednesday night, September 4.

Sophomore Katejion Robinson leads the way in offense and front row defense as she has 78 kills, nine aces, 59 digs and 13 blocks. Freshmen Amelia Langelier (48 kills, 12 digs and eight blocks) and Camryn Childers (47 kills, 13 aces and 60 digs) follow Robinson's offense, while classmate Maya Rhamy (18 assists and 95 digs) and rising sophomores Hannah St. Croix (29 kills, eight aces, 12 digs and 13 blocks) lead the defense.

Overall, the Manatees are 14-4 against the Indian River State. Last time both teams met was during the 2021 season where they split with the Manatees winning the first match 3-0 (forfeit) and losing the second match 3-0.

Scouting Palm Beach State:

Palm Beach State is coming off of finishing last season 6-16 overall with a 6-7 record in the Sun Lakes Conference. They would finish third behind SCF and fail to make the NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA DII State Volleyball Tournament, despite being the host of the tournament. They are lead by head coach Drew Colvin, who enters his 18th season with the program and ninth as the head coach.

Currently, the Panthers are coming off off opening their season at the Viking Invitational in Palatka where they would sweep Monroe College (3-1), College of Southern Maryland (3-0), Bishop State Community College (3-2) and USC Lancaster (3-2) before splitting a doubleheader in Fort Pierce after defeating Santa Fe (3-2) before being swept by Hillsborough (3-0). They will play Pasco-Hernando State Wednesday night, September 4 prior to facing SCF.

Sophomore Patrycja Kabala leads the way offensively with 85 kills, 13 aces and 49 digs, while freshman Sophia Soderbeg leads the defense with 105 digs.

Overall, the Manatees are 15-21 against the Panthers. In their last series, the Manatees swept Palm Beach State at home and on the road both by a score of 3-1.

Scouting South Florida State:

The Panthers are coming off of finishing last season 5-11 overall with a 3-10 record in the Sun Lakes Conference. They would finish fourth overall in the standings and would not qualify for the state tournament. 

The team is lead by head coach Kim Crawford, who enters her 22nd season as head coach. Key returners for the Panthers include Kelsey Dodd (39 assists, 12 aces and 282 digs; All-Sun Lakes First Team), Ce'Mone Jose (62 kills, 17 digs and 41 blocks) and Danielle Worthy (68 kills, 27 digs and 53 blocks).

Prior to playing SCF, the Panthers will take on St. Pete College Wednesday night, Sept 4.

Overall, the Manatees are 32-12 against the Panthers. Last time, both teams split their series with the Manatees winning 3-0 at home before losing 3-0 in Avon Park.