Looking to capture fourth straight state title, Seacrest opens 2024 as preseason No. 1 team

The 2024 Southwest Florida volleyball season is upon us.

Area teams have taken the courts since Tuesday for preseason matches this week with multiple teams capable of vying for state championships.

Each week, The News-Press and Naples Daily News will rank the Top 10 teams in Lee County, Collier County, and LaBelle. The power rankings will be based on their record, strength of schedule, and head-to-head matchups.

The Elite 11: Who are Southwest Florida's top volleyball players to watch during the 2024 season?

Here are our rankings heading into 2024, with a lengthy bit of analysis as the regular season looms next week:

1. Seacrest Country Day

Coach: Andy Wimmer (first season)

Last year: 29-3, made playoffs (won Class 2A State Championship over Boca Raton Christian)

2024 Projected Regular Season Record: 19-6

Season outlook: You can call Seacrest's last three years as a team, a variety of things.

Dramatic. Tumultuous. Legacy-defining. Turbulent. Historic.

Whatever word you may use to describe the Stingrays, the outcome has resulted in the same thing each year: a state championship. Having won 90 of their last 91 sets against Lee and Collier County competition dating back to 2021, Seacrest enters the year as Southwest Florida's top-ranked team, as chosen by The News-Press and Naples Daily News.

It'll be the last dance for a historic trio of Alexa Haley, Milena Lopez, and Sami Soderlund, who have gone 81-11 (.880) over the last three seasons. They'll look to close out their careers with one more ring before the state title window for Seacrest evaporates upon their graduations.

"I feel good about the season so far," Haley said. "Our coach has been really good. We've been working hard in practices, and I think we just need to keep working hard. We've got some younger players on our team this year, so it's important to make them feel included and be a team together."

Having Haley (1,673 career digs) Lopez (1,035 assists, 114 kills in 2023), and Soderlund (team-high 372 kills in 2023) certainly will help, but at the same time, the respective progressions of Adriana Garcia (219 kills, .320 hitting percentage) and Klaudia Beach (102 kills, .326 hitting percentage) have been noteworthy. Couple that in with getting a middle blocker in Ellie Joffe from IMG Academy's National team, and the Stingrays are positioning themselves well to get back to a fourth consecutive state title contest.

With Joffe and Beach both at 6-foot-1, Soderlund at 6-foot-2, Garcia at 5-foot-11, and Lopez at 5-foot-10, Seacrest will be even taller at the net this year, making things tough for opposing attackers. They're poised to be even better on the block this season after averaging 1.7 blocks per set a season ago, compared to the 1.9 blocks per set from the 2022 season and the 0.9 per set from the 2021 season.

"We're excited for blocking this year," Haley said. "... We have strong blockers and a lot of height this year. I think it's important we work on the little things and practice on blocking, so we use that height to our advantage."

Despite the significant looming losses after the season, Andy Wimmer hopes to continue the program's success long after his senior class graduates. The first-year coach moved from Maine, coaching at Cheverus and taking over for Jeff Motluck. Wimmer also has prior experience as an assistant at Bishop Moore in Orlando.

"I'm super excited to coach this team and go to battle with them, quite honestly," Wimmer said. "The volleyball in Maine is different than the volleyball in Florida. I've told the players that I've been a bunch of different coaches, and coach as the team needs. Knowing where these players are at, I'm really excited to be able to coach them where I want to coach at, if we're being candid."

Seacrest will get tested to start the regular season against Gulf Coast, King's Academy, and Cardinal Newman before heading to the Nike Tournament of Champions at the end of the month.

2. Community School

Coach: Alicia MacIntyre Ewerth (ninth season)

Last year: 18-7, missed playoffs (lost to Canterbury in Class 3A-District 12 semifinal)

2024 Projected Regular Season Record: 16-3

Season outlook: The Seahawks coming in as the area's second-ranked team in the preseason is more of an upside pick. Parlaying that in with the added value of solid and experienced coaching that'll come into play especially for this season, CSN has the pieces to make noise across Southwest Florida.

CSN returns virtually everybody from last year's starting rotation, spearheaded by Bucknell commit Kelly McAuley (284 kills), Sophia Baer (202 kills), Mia Ringhofer (143 kills), and Grace Kulis (107 kills) on the attack. Trinity McCormick returns after posting 639 assists as a freshman setter, and Oregon commit Lizzy Robinson will assume libero duties once again after posting 397 digs as a sophomore.

"What's exciting about this team, is that there's so much depth," MacIntyre Ewerth said. "We have a great group of juniors, we have some sophomores, we have some middle school girls that have a lot of talent. That's exciting for us to have depth in age. That means a bright future moving forward, not just this year. Come October, they'll be ready."

The Seahawks have what it takes reclaim their status as the area's top team, like they were in 2021. They'll look to stake their claim as the area's top team in a competitive Private 8, which owns five of the top six spots in these rankings.

"It's always for us, about not getting complacent with the girls and always pushing them to their limits," MacIntyre Ewerth said. "It's easy when you have girls returning, for them to think that they know as a coach is to push them to their full potential, and have that buy-in to whatever that may be. That's what's so exciting about coaching here at CSN.

"We have girls that not only have been in the program, but will play wherever I ask them to. I think that's really exciting because we have a libero that can be an outside. We have a setter that can play the middle. We have an outside that can play the middle or be a DS. They are willing to do whatever the team needs. They all have that selfless attitude."

CSN will get after it right away, looking to get revenge on the team that knocked them out of the postseason last year in Canterbury. With tournament pools to be determined in their schedule, the Seahawks will have at least 10 games against ranked opponents this year, something that should prepare CSN well for the stretch run in October in a new and far less loaded region than the one they were in a season ago.

"The goal is to obviously be one of the best in the area," MacIntyre Ewerth said. "... Our region has moved to the east coast. I'm excited for a new look. You kinda get sick of playing the same teams in the region. It's exciting to have a fresh slate."

3. First Baptist

Coach: Marci Walker (14th season)

Last year: 17-6, made playoffs (lost to Calvary Christian in Class 3A-Region 3 quarterfinal)

2024 Projected Regular Season Record: 17-8

Season outlook: Despite how young Marci Walker’s teams have been in recent years, they consistently have found ways to win and maintain their status as a top squad in Southwest Florida. In 2024, that youth has gotten a year older, creating a vibe around campus that the Lions can make some noise once again.

There’s no denying Zara Stewart’s impact on this squad as a six-rotation player, having been a Southwest Florida Volleyball Player of the Year finalist a season ago after finishing with 294 kills, 262 digs, 58 aces, 51 assists, and 18 blocks while posting a .299 hitting percentage.

"They're basically picking up where they left off, for the most part," Walker said. "It'll be interesting because we're young, but we're always young it seems. We just keep filtering through. It'll be bittersweet though, losing Zara after this year. Hopefully some people step up after that. I'm excited for this year."

Peyton Garrick is primed to have another solid season flanking Stewart. As a sophomore, Garrick posted 228 kills with 207 digs, displaying her versatility as a six-rotation player. Laila Stewart will take setter duties once again, while freshman Jade Rau will enter her third year as the starting libero after starting at the spot since her seventh grade year.

Maleda Azunque (96 kills, 53 blocks) and Ava Varneckas (47 kills, 21 blocks) should see an uptick in volume after Josie Hendricks (129 kills) the team's lone senior last season, graduated.

"I think it won't be just one person this year," Walker said. "Our theme is going to be unity, and it does take a team because in the past when things get difficult, one person tries to step up. They all can bring stuff, all the way down to being smart. I think all of them have matured in court IQ and court awareness.

"They know what they have to do to motivate each other. It's not having to restart. We're picking up where we left off."

4. Canterbury

Coach: Charlie Castillo (fifth season)

Last year: 17-9, made playoffs (lost to Berkeley Prep in Class 3A-Region 3 quarterfinal)

2024 Projected Regular Season Record: 17-5

Season outlook: Canterbury is looking to avoid a falloff after losing Madison Hammermeister, Addison Piatt and Olivia Hoy on the attack from last year's team, and if the year before was any indicator, Charlie Castillo's group should be able to reload and remain competitive.

This year feels similar after Castillo lost Chandler Swanson, Jordan Curran, Kayla Huether, and Laila Mecko after the 2022 season. But the Cougars captured another district championship last season, advancing to the regional quarterfinals in a loaded Class 3A-Region 3.

"I think we're in a really good position right now from a leadership standpoint," Castillo said. "All of our team meetings went exceptionally well. I'm excited to see the newer players step up and step into some different roles. I think the senior leadership is going to be a huge part of that for us this year. It's going to be a huge part of our success."

That was in part due to Brighten Sedmack's breakout junior season, going from 88 kills as a sophomore to a team-leading 233 a year ago. If that track repeats itself once again, Charlotte Laquis should be in line for a massive junior year after posting 96 kills and 53 blocks last season splitting time with Hoy in the middle.

Laquis will move to the outside this season, while Remy Foos (47 kills, 20 blocks) will move to the middle. With Aaliyah Harlow (364 digs) manning the libero position and Molly Dunn (442 assists) set to start the season at setter, the math is there for the Cougars to capture another district title and make the postseason once more.

"I think Charlotte's excited to take on some new responsibilities within the team," Castillo said. "She's such a versatile player, that we're excited to have the ability to adapt to what other teams throw at us, and she gives us that ability to match up well against different teams in different situations. I think her ability to continue to want to learn and continue to want to get better is promising. It creates more opportunities for our team."

Castillo expects his team to learn early, and close strong as some younger players will look to gather more game experience against competition that will include Bishop Verot, CSN, Estero, Gulf Coast, Marco Island, and Riverdale among others in the Private 8 tournament and the Wildcat Invite.

"I'm excited to see where we are in October, as opposed to where we are in August," Castillo said. "I think it's going to be a year for us where we have a ton of growth, but I think if everything goes according to plan, I think we can be in a good position to continue to be successful by October."

5. Barron Collier

Coach: Kaitlyn Ziegelmaier (first season)

Last year: 26-7, made playoffs (lost to Middleburg in Class 5A State Championship)

2024 Projected Regular Season Record: 15-10

Season outlook: Losing the area's reigning Player of the Year, a two-time First Team setter and a head coach is tough for any program to digest, but Barron Collier has an opportunity to defy conventional wisdom that a down year might be in the offing.

Kaitlyn Ziegelmaier, a longtime assistant under both Robert Ritchie and Yamil Del Valle, will get her first opportunity as head coach for the Cougars after Del Valle resigned and moved to Missouri.

Returning a senior nucleus of Charlotte commit Sofia Locadia, Charlotte Mongin, Mia Weintraub, Allison Giraldo, and Widener commit Ava Kramer will certainly help when it comes to continuing the program's tradition of advancing to a Final Four.

"Leadership is going to be big for us this year," Ziegelmaier said. "They've seen it modeled very well. They can model it for our juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. I'm really proud of their innate leadership already. They do things on their own, and they're not consulting us about it, in a good way. Everything feels natural, and it feels purposeful.

"They understand in order to find common ground, common consistency, winning, all of that, it takes leadership on and off the court. I'm really proud of our ones that can't be on the court because of injury that they're still able to find voices within the entire team. It allows them to feel cohesive while still building leadership in whatever that may be. They've done a stellar job."

Locadia and Weintraub were arguably the area's top two middles last season on both ends, combining for 331 kills and 169 total blocks. Mongin and Kramer (290 combined kills) will look to take on larger roles after the graduations of Aisha Keric (440 kills) and Kendra Pruitt. Barron currently has two holes, one at libero and another at setter, as Ashley Giraldo and Ava Zehnder (898 assists) also moved on.

What Allison Giraldo's role will be remains to be seen, as her versatility on the defensive and offensive ends should see her on the floor for all six rotations, while Ella Moss should give Barron depth on the back line upon her return from injury during the final few weeks of the regular season. Angelina Aliyeva, who was a Beach Volleyball Player of the Year finalist alongside Zehnder, could be thrusted into the setter spot to start the year.

"We're still in the process, but being a setter myself, I feel like with the people we have stepping into those roles, we're going to be fine," Ziegelmaier said. "It's just going to take high rep, high intentionality. Talking with them through things is going to be huge. One of the downfalls is that we don't have that situational awareness that Zehnder was able to accrue over her four years.

"But, I think there's plenty of opportunity for that situational awareness to happen in the gym as long as we have a senior, junior, and sophomore in those roles. The plan is for that future, and for that immediate need. I think we'll be able to attack well, it'll just take a lot of reps."

6. Bishop Verot

Coach: Christy Curtis (second season)

Last year: 20-7, missed playoffs (lost to First Baptist in Class 3A-District 12 semifinal)

2024 Projected Regular Season Record: 15-10

Season outlook: The Vikings have a chance to capture their first district title since 2018, thanks in part due to reclassification that puts them up against Clewiston, Gateway Charter, and Oasis in Class 3A-District 10.

Verot returns Maddie Knaak (216 kills, 128 digs, 38 blocks, 31 aces, 390 serve receptions) and Flagler commit Kate Anderson (26 kills, 25 blocks) up front. The program also added SFCA's Haylee Masiero, who posted 235 kills, 196 digs, and 29 aces a season ago for the King's.

"I feel really good about it," Verot coach Christy Curtis said. "I feel like we're going to be better than what we were last year. The girls that moved in from JV and the transfers that came in should make a significant difference."

Sidney Blackwood split time with Delaney Shovelin last season in the team's 6-2 rotation but is expected to handle most of the setting duties after leading the team with 435 assists. Joining Blackwood will be Samantha Till, a dual-sport transfer from Seattle. Replacing Marissa Peck will be a tall order at libero, as Peck led the team with 317 digs last season. Battling for that spot will be Sophia Fay, Chase Hathaway, and Stella Robinson.

"I expect she'll do even more than what she did last year for us," Curtis said of Knaak. "She had a great club season, and she got more used to playing six rotations, which I forced her to do last year. She's doing really, really well, hitting the ball really well. She did beach for the first time, and so that has helped her with her jumping a bit.

"I expect (Kate) to play a little bit of middle, a little bit of right side. She did set during some of club season when their setter got hurt. I might use her in that aspect a little bit too because she's built like a setter. She's quick, smart, and a great leader for the girls."

Verot will get started right away against Naples and the SSAA Tournament, before a tough second half of the season that includes five games at the Wildcat Invite and contests against Canterbury, Port Charlotte, Charlotte, St. John Neumann, and Barron Collier to close the regular season.

7. Fort Myers

Coach: Shannon Puder (fourth season)

Last year: 21-9, made playoffs (lost to Bloomingdale in Class 6A-Region 3 final)

2024 Projected Regular Season Record: 18-6

Season outlook: Last year's regional final run marked the best season thus far under Shannon Puder. Now, the Green Wave are hoping to replicate that success heading into her fourth season leading the program.

This year will be a new region for the Green Wave, as South Florida programs like Lourdes, Archbishop McCarthy, Pembroke Pines Charter, and others stand in the way. Local foes in Riverdale and Gulf Coast also share the same district, making the path for Fort Myers even tougher than what it was a season ago.

"I have a great group of seniors coming back," Puder said. "It's my first full four-year class, so I'm excited about that. Our seniors are going to be great leaders. They're super hard workers, no matter what season, whether it's indoor in the gym, or beach. They're always training. We have some girls who transferred in, some freshman who are going to do some things this year that we're looking forward to. I'm excited."

Ashlee Tenkley and Gabby Dwyer, beach volleyball commits for North Florida and Tulane, will once again be a tall order for opposing hitters and opposing blocks to stop. Last season, the duo combined for 525 kills, 338 digs, 124 aces, and 73 blocks.

There's a considerable amount of buzz this season centered around what Olivia German will be able to accomplish in her junior season, who is set to take over the middle following Jessica McKee's graduation. German had 27 kills last season over 30 sets played, but her workload is expected to ramp up considerably in 2024 considering McKee finished with 208 kills and 34 blocks.

"She can jump out of the gym," Puder said of German.

Puder also gets her top two setters back from a season ago in Erin McDowell and Addi Sprecher, who saw a total of 2,023 combined attempts last season. McDowell led the Greenies with 447, while Sprecher was at 290 in a complementary role. Fort Myers also got Mia Costas from South Fort Myers, giving Puder another setter and attacker this season.

"Our returners are going to be able to step into some of those key roles," Puder said. "I'm just excited to have that additional depth on the bench. We have such great team chemistry, and they're super close, so that's always helpful. It's always a welcoming environment for new girls to come into. That's one thing, they've blended seamlessly. I'm excited about that."

8. Marco Island

Coach: Alyssa Stolinas (seventh season)

Last year: 21-7, made playoffs (lost to Keswick Christian in Class 2A-Region 3 semifinal)

2024 Projected Regular Season Record: 17-6

Season outlook: The team located the furthest south in our coverage area surely isn't afraid to make a splash.

The Rays set a new mark for most wins in a season with 21, surpassing the 2019 and 2021 seasons. Last year's Marco Island squad advanced to the Class 2A-Region 3 semifinals, beating St. John Neumann in the first round to get there.

Alyssa Stolinas gets virtually her entire squad back from last year with the exception of Jenna Ragan (193 kills, 221 digs, 78 aces). That should position Marco to put together another solid season, anchored by Medney Garraux (364 kills, 27 blocks), Rylee Howard (193 kills, 43 blocks), Madison Stolinas (717 assists, 172 digs, 96 aces), and Sophia Ogdin (241 digs).

"We have our core coming back, we lost one senior," Stolinas said of her team. "We added a bunch of freshmen, but we mostly have everyone else back. From the minute we lost to Keswick in the regional semifinals, they have grown tremendously. It starts from our juniors now, to our freshmen... They're a good group of girls who eat, sleep, and breathe volleyball. That's more than I can ask for."

The Rays will take on a slew of ranked opponents, including No. 1 Seacrest, No. 2 CSN, No. 3 First Baptist, No. 4 Canterbury, and more at the Wildcat Invite. Stolinas feels like this team, despite having no seniors, is ready for the test and to take the next step as a legitimate contender.

"I think we're ready for those tests," Stolinas said. "I think we're in a good position right now to challenge ourselves. When we made schedules this year, we knew we needed to step up our game a bit. Playing Seacrest, playing FBA, playing Canterbury, playing CSN and all those teams, I think the girls are ready for it. I think it's going to be a challenge and it's not going to be an easy win. It's something they'll have to push for.

"We can do it, we just need to go in and play a game where we don't make too many errors and stick to technique. I feel like they're ready. It's why I made the schedule a bit harder."

9. Gulf Coast

Coach: John Alvarez (second season)

Last year: 20-9, made playoffs (lost to Barron Collier in Class 5A-Region 3 final)

2024 Projected Regular Season Record: 13-11

Season outlook: The Sharks punched above their weight and then some last year, working with a first-year coach in John Alvarez. The program advanced to the Class 5A-Region 3 final, coming up just short against a Barron Collier team that advanced to the Class 5A championship.

The Sharks return a pair of talented hitters in Juliette Van Wagner (176 kills) and Sophia Schultz (169 kills, 28 blocks), and add junior middle Nelinka Lambcke into the fold from Aubrey Rogers. Lambcke had 36 blocks for the Patriots last season, adding 76 kills and giving the Sharks height at the net.

"I think we have a lot of great pieces coming back," Alvarez said. "I think we have some pieces that have developed and have moved up. Obviously with the return of Nelinka and a freshman we had coming in, Alyssa (Tadysak), I think we have a lot of good pieces. When you graduate your starting setter, starting libero, starting middle, starting outside, all the pieces that we graduated, there were some holes to fill."

The duo of Marina Rau and Casey Williams were key to Gulf Coast's success a season ago, but both are now gone. Addi Dumont will assume setting duties, while Cassandra Maldonado will succeed Williams at libero. Dumont posted 238 assists and 28 aces, while Maldonado had 56 digs over 39 sets played. It was hard for the junior to find time last season on the defensive end, as Williams and Kiley Stone were integral four-year players for the program.

"For me, when she was put on varsity, it was like, 'I want you to be around these girls'," Alvarez said of Maldonado being around Williams and Stone. "One, they're phenomenal human beings and great defenders. Cassandra can hold her own. That's the one piece where we lost a really good libero, but we have somebody that's there that's just as good."

Gulf Coast's schedule will be a gauntlet, taking on the three-time defending state champion Seacrest right out of the chute. From there, the team will get tested against Aubrey Rogers and Community School before going to the Lake Howell Invitational on Sept. 15. Alvarez also scheduled his team for Westminster Christian's Warrior Invitational, one of the top midseason tournaments in the state.

"I like how we look moving forward," Alvarez said. "The kids are great, they're phenomenal. They're open to being coached. They accept direction. They all enjoy being around each other and competing. I think we'll do well. We'll see where we're at on the 15th."

10. Estero

Coach: John Ban (third season)

Last year: 19-10, made playoffs (lost to Holy Names in Class 4A-Region 3 final)

2024 Projected Regular Season Record: 16-9

Season outlook: John Ban knows the amount of production he was losing to graduation following last season's regional final run. Gia Rosencrans, Ashlynn Ban, Sophie Perkins, Katelyn Carroll, Kaelyn Wilson, and others all moved on after winning back-to-back district championships.

With Mercer commit Sofia King returning at setter, she'll be working with a fresh slate of hitters, led by Kassia Perkins, Brooke Smith, Lilly Engle, and Delayna Kerry. Casey Kennedy will replace Carroll at the libero spot, as Kennedy comes from The Tatnall School in Wilmington, Delaware.

"I'm happy with the team right now," Ban said. "I think we're going to get better as the year moves along. I was worried going into this season, losing so many seniors last year, and thinking it was going to be a rebuild year. But now I'm starting to think it's more of a reload year.

"We have senior leadership at the setting position, which is huge. Sofia King's going to make all the players around her better. That what she's expected to do this year with the amount of youth we have on the pins, showing them the way and being a role model and leader for them."

Estero has a chance to capture a third consecutive district title under Ban in four years, competing in a district against the likes of Aubrey Rogers, Barron Collier, Bonita Springs, and LaBelle among others. If the Wildcats can hoist a trophy in October, they'll be in good shape moving forward.

"There's no pressure on this team," Ban said. "This team has a bunch of young players. They're going out there, swinging hard and trying to put the ball away. It's not their senior year, they don't feel that pressure. They're just going out there and doing what they know how to do."

First Five Out: St. John Neumann, Riverdale, Bonita Springs, Oasis, Aubrey Rogers

Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin . For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Looking to capture fourth straight state title, Seacrest opens 2024 as preseason No. 1 team