FHSAA Volleyball Rankings: Three Pensacola-area teams rank within top 100 of entire state

Another week, another Florida High School Athletic Association volleyball rankings.

As stated last week, the ratings and rankings look a little different than MaxPreps, which means it’s possible that the spot where teams place in the region or state may differ. However, the FHSAA has said that while it’s not a direct replica, the organization will be leaning more toward the MaxPreps rankings when it comes to playoffs.

We're inching closer and close to district tournaments, which begin around the state on Oct. 14. Region tournaments are slated to begin on Oct. 22. The rankings will determine the four at-large bid teams behind the four district champions per region.

It’s important to remember that the district tournament champion automatically moves onto the region tournament, and anything can happen within those tournaments – including upsets.

Here are the latest FHSAA volleyball rankings for teams from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as of Tuesday, plus a playoff watch.

Class 6A rankings

• Gulf Breeze (30.551) – first in District 1-6A, first in Region 1-6A, first in Class 6A, eighth overall
• Navarre (24.685) – third in District 1-6A, fourth in Region 1-6A, fifth in Class 6A, 33rd overall
• Pace (18.787) – fourth in District 1-6A, eighth in Region 1-6A, 11th in Class 6A, 74th overall
• Tate (11.152) – sixth in District 1-6A, 15th in Region 1-6A, 23rd in Class 6A, 158th overall
• Milton (-2.907) – seventh in District 1-6A, 25th in Region 1-6A, 67th in Class 6A, 419th overall

Region 1-6A playoff watch

• 1. Gulf Breeze (1)* vs. 8. Pace (1)
• 2. Niceville (1) vs. 7. Horizon (4)
• 3. Oviedo (3)* vs. 6. Lake Minneola (4)*
• 4. Navarre (1) vs. 5. Fletcher (2)*

Playoff notes: All four presumed district champions – Gulf Breeze (1), Oviedo (3), Fletcher (2) and Lake Minneola (4) – are within the top eight teams. Navarre would not host, however, despite being the higher seed at No. 4 since Fletcher would be a district champion. With four District 1 teams in the region playoffs, as of now, it's hard to argue that this is one of the toughest regions to play through. We would get one local matchup though between Gulf Breeze and Pace.

Class 5A rankings

• Booker T. Washington (10.149) – third in District 1-5A, 10th in Region 1-5A, 23rd in Class 5A, 175th overall
• Escambia (-5.750) – fifth in District 1-5A, 17th in Region 1-5A, 62nd in Class 5A, 472nd overall
• Pine Forest (-14.815) – sixth in District 1-5A, 20th in Region 1-5A, 86th in Class 5A, 595th overall

Region 1-5A playoff watch

• 1. Chiles (2)* vs. 8. Choctaw (1)
• 2. Beachside (4)* vs. 7. Leon (2)
• 3. Middleburg (3)* vs. 6. Fleming Island (3)
• 4. Ponte Vedra (4) vs. 5. Mosley (1)*

Playoff notes: Escambia and Santa Rosa County wouldn't have any representation in Region 1-5A, as the closest team, Booker T. Washington, is on the outside looking in at 10th. Other than that, all four presumed district champions – Chiles (2), Beachside (4), Middleburg (3) and Mosley (1) – are within the top eight teams of the region.

Class 4A rankings

• Pensacola (9.326) – second in District 1-4A, fourth in Region 1-4A, 18th in Class 4A, 191st overall
• West Florida (5.302) – fourth in District 1-4A, seventh in Region 1-4A, 27th in Class 4A, 266th overall

Region 1-4A playoff watch

• 1. Bishop Kenny (4)* vs. 8. Suwannee (2)*
• 2. South Walton (1)* vs. 7. West Florida (1)
• 3. Baker County (4) vs. 6. Yulee (3)*
• 4. Pensacola (1) vs. 5. Fort Walton Beach (1)

Playoff notes: It's safe to say District 1 has a stronghold on Region 1, with four teams from the district currently ranked within the top eight programs. However, all four presumed district champions – Bishop Kenny (4), South Walton (1), Yulee (3) and Suwannee (2) – all rank within the top eight teams. Baker County (District 4) wouldn't host, as Yulee would earn the right from District 3.

Class 3A rankings

• Pensacola Catholic (12.906) – second in District 1-3A, fourth in Region 1-3A, 24th in Class 3A, 134th overall

Region 1-3A playoff watch

• 1. Florida High (2)* vs. 8. Bolles (4)
• 2. North Bay Haven Academy (1)* vs. 7. Freeport (1)
• 3. Wolfson (4)* vs. 6. Baldwin (3)*
• 4. Pensacola Catholic (1) vs. 5. Episcopal (4)

Playoff notes: Pensacola Catholic, despite being an at-large bid team, would still earn the right to host as the higher-seeded team against Episcopal from District 4. Still, however, all four presumed district champions – Florida High (2), North Bay Haven (1), Wolfson (4) and Baldwin (3) – are within the top eight teams. Baldwin, despite being a district champ, would still have to travel to Wolfson.

Class 1A rankings

• LEAD Academy (-20.060) – fifth in District 1-1A, 21st in Region 1-1A, 82nd in Class 1A, 638th overall

Region 1-1A playoff watch

• 1. St. John Lutheran (4)* vs. 8. St. Johns Country Day (3)
• 2. Harvest Community (2)* vs. 7. North Florida Christian (1)*
• 3. Meadowbrook (4) vs. 6. Christ's Church (3)*
• 4. Hernando Christian (4) vs. 5. Beaches Chapel (2)

Once again, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties wouldn't have any representation in the Region 1-1A playoffs. All four presumed district champions – St. John Lutheran (4), Harvest Community (2), Christ's Church (3) and North Florida Christian (1) – are within the top eight teams. However, Christ's Church would host Meadowbrook as a district champion. North Florida Christian would still have to go on the road.

Rural ranking

• Jay (11.552) – first in District 1-Rural, first in Region 1-Rural, fourth in Rural overall, 150th overall in state
• Central (0.994) – third in District 1-Rural, fifth in Region 1-Rural, 13th in Rural overall, 358th overall in state
• Northview (-4.836) – fourth in District 1-Rural, sixth in Region 1-Rural, 21st in Rural overall, 454th overall in state

Region 1-Rural playoff watch

• 1. Jay (1)* vs. 4. Cottondale (2)
• 2. Chipley (2)* vs. 3. Baker (1)*

Playoff notes: Remember, the rural regional playoffs a bit different, with a champion from Districts 1 and 2, plus two at-large bid teams, making the tournament. Central is currently on the outside looking in, sitt

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: FHSAA Volleyball Rankings: Three Pensacola-area teams rank within top 100 of entire state