Senior leaders ready to carry Fernandina Beach's volleyball team in playoffs

The Fernandina Beach volleyball team was ousted in district play last year by rival Episcopal. It was an earlier end to their season than the Pirates had hoped after reaching the regional semifinals the year before.

Coach Shannon Strumlauf said a lack of senior leadership contributed to her team's early exit.

This year, the Pirates' three senior captains - Alyssa Whitfield, Savannah Young and Caroline Garner - made sure that wouldn't be a concern.

"It was a big letdown last year," Strumlauf said. "They are the ones that lead their team because they see how it ended when we didn't have strong leadership."

The FHSAA helped the Pirates' postseason cause when the organization shuffled the team into a three-team district with West Nassau and Yulee. That meant the Pirates could lock up a spot in the District 4-4A championship match - and the first round of regionals - with two regular-season wins.

But the Pirates (13-9) didn't just win their district matches. They dominated.

Fernandina Beach defeated Yulee 3-0, dropping only 34 points. The Pirates downed West Nassau in three games, as well, dropping just 35 points.

Next week, Whitfield, Garner and Young, who have played club volleyball together since the fifth grade, will play their final district match as teammates. Fernandina Beach will take on the winner of the Yulee-West Nassau game in the district final at 6 p.m. next Thursday at Fernandina Beach.

"It's kind of sad knowing that it's all coming to an end," said Garner, who has played on varsity with Whitfield and Young since all three were freshmen at Fernandina. "Knowing it's our last season together, it's kind of exciting."

Whitfield said growing up together in a small town ensured they were always more than just teammates, and this season, they've also really gelled with the new players on the team.

"We've had our laughs and our cries but we've grown together, so it's nice," Whitfield said.

One of those cries came after a significant victory for the Pirates. Fernandina Beach defeated Bolles for the first time since Strumlauf took over the program six years ago. The visiting Pirates won a hard-fought match - 28-26, 23-25, 25-16, 25-23 - on Oct. 4.

"It felt really good. We all cried," Young said of the victory over Bolles. "[Our last season together] has been bittersweet ... [but] it's been really memorable and exciting."

The Pirates beat the Bulldogs again in a tournament at Bolles a few days later.

With a spot in regional play already guaranteed, the Pirates are playing next week for a chance to host a first-round match, possibly against an old rival.

"This is our last chance to really prove that this school isn't just a small public school," Young said. "We can compete with the top private schools in Florida - not only compete, but beat."

Regardless of who they face in the first round of regionals, Strumlauf said the Pirates are aiming much farther.

"Our big goal this year is to make it to Kissimmee [for the state final four]," she said. "I think we're very capable, but once you get into the playoffs, it's anybody's game on any given night, and you can't overlook anybody.

"It's been a fun four years with them," she said. "Hopefully we can end on a really positive note."

Francine King: (904) 359-4372