SCF VB Opens 2021 Season

Bradenton, Fla. - After seven months of not being able to compete, the SCF volleyball team is set to return to action as they open the 2021season on neutral grounds Friday, January 22. The Manatees will compete in a tripleheader against Palm Beach State at 9 am, Miami Dade College at 3 pm and Indian River State at 6 pm in the FSW Kickoff Classic at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Ft. Myers, hosted by Suncoast Conference Runner-up Florida Southwestern State. Host FSW, Florida State College at Jacksonville and Daytona State will also be participating in the classic, but neither team will be competing against the Manatees until the following dates (1/30 @ Daytona State, 2/13 vs DSC, 2/24 @ DSC, 2/16 vs FSW and 3/4 @ FSW).

After the tournament, the Manatees will return for their home opener against Paavo-Hernando State.


Last Time Out:
The Manatees finished last season 5-19 overall with a 2-4 record in the Suncoast Conference for a third place finish. Originally, the Manatees were 3-23 overall with an 0-6 record in conference for a last place finish but due to St. Pete College (SPC) having an ineligible player compete and furthermore had to forfeit their spot in the FCSAA State Tournament with Florida Southwestern State (FSW) taking their place.


The Manatees will be led by Lynn Burnette. Burnette enters her second season as full-time head coach after being named as interim head coach last season. Burnette is joined by assistant coach Karen Byrd. Burnette and Byrd also coach the SCF beach volleyball team.

Last Season's Standings with Conference Standings:
1. Hillsborough (24-6, 6-0)
2. FSW (16-8, 4-2)
3. SCF (5-19, 2-4)
4. SPC (0-16, 0-6)

Welcome Back Polk State:
In regards of Polk State, their volleyball team will be rejoining the Suncoast Conference after spending the last three seasons in the Mid-Florida Conference winning back-to-back Mid-Florida Regular Season Championships and qualifying for the state and national tournaments for six straight seasons. The Eagles left the Suncoast to join Mid-Florida in 2017 before finishing last season 24-6 overall with a 6-0 record in the Mid-Florida Conference and a seventh place finish in the national tournament in Casper, Wyoming.


Polk State will also be playing in the Suncoast Conference for baseball and softball, but will be in the Mid-Florida Conference for men’s basketball.

Big Losses/Key Returners/New Gains:
The Manatees will be without six players: Sydney Jaco, Barbora Tichackova, Emily Sauceda, Hannah Strickland, Lakeesha Esseboom and Daviya Bernanrd. Jaco and Tichackova have chosen to continue their collegiate volleyball careers at the NCAA DI level. Jaco will be attending Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, while Tichackova will attend Hampton University in Hampton, VA.

On November 12, it was announced via Twitter that rising sophomore Brooke Henry has committed to continue her collegiate volleyball at Southeastern University (NAIA) in Lakeland, FL with 3 years of eligibility remaining. Henry finished third on the team with 142 digs, while adding seven aces.

The Manatees will have five returners back in the rotation: Leilani Wilcox-Nanai, Lisa Jaunet, Bailey Sikkema, Gracee Carpino and Jazmin Spencer.

Wilcox-Nanai led the Manatees offensively with 151 kills, while defensively had 197 digs (second on the team).

Jaunet finished third on the team in kills (117), while adding 31 blocks (eight solo) on the defensive end.

Sikkema, a local product from Bradenton Christian School, finished her freshman campaign with 51 kills and 19 blocks (four solo).

Carpino led the Manatees last season with 586 assists and 25 aces.

Spencer finished her freshman campaign with 70 kills and 21 blocks (eight solo).

As far as newcomers, Burnett was able to land 12 newcomers to join the team: Kaylee Forman, Jennifer Rivera, Abby Hutchinson, Brianna Sweitzer, Kaysha Kahai-Enos, Giulia Rodrigues, Adlene Jideofor, Laugene Arnsby, Kayla David, Jadyn Wallen, Faith Blaise and Carolina Moffatt.

Rivera, Hutchinson, Arnsby and Sweitzer are all local products

Kaylee Forman:
Forman, a setter from Cary, NC, joins the Manatees after graduating from Colonial Crowns Homeschool in Cary, NC. She finished her senior year with 755 assists (9.9 assists per game), 208 digs and 119 aces. 

As a member of the Crowns, Forman helped them to a 19-7 overall record with a 2-4 in league play (NCISAA Independent) and lead them to the NCISAA Independent volleyball playoffs.

Jennifer Rivera:
A local product from Palmetto High School, Rivera plays as a defensive specialist/libero.
As a senior, Rivera helped lead the Tigers to a 16-10 record where they made it to the quarterfinals of the FHSAA 6A District 7 Tournament. She finished her senior year with 183 digs and 32 aces, which included a season-high 26 against Booker (10/3/19).

Abby Hutchinson:
Another local product from North Port High School, Hutchinson plays as a middle blocker.

As a senior, she finished her campaign with 176 kills and 20 solo blocks while leading the Bobcats to the semifinals of the FHSAA 7A District 8 Tournament.

Brianna Sweitzer:
Sweitzer is another local outside hitter that joins the Manatees from Braden River High School. As a senior for the Pirates, she helped them to a 13-9 record before falling in the first round of the FHSAA 6A District Tournament.

Kaysha Kahai-Enos:
Joining the Manatees off the coast of Puna, Hi, Kahai-Enos joins the Manatees as a sophomore transfer from Lee College in Baytown, TX (NJCAA Region 14/SWJCC). She will have one year of eligibility remaining.

As a member of the Runnin’ Rebels, she played in five matches, tallying one kill, one block and two digs while helping them to a 20-13 overall record with a 5-4 record in the Region 14 Standings (5th place).

Prior to Lee College, Kahai-Enos played at Kamehameha Hawai’i High School in Kea’au, HI.  As a member of the Warriors, she led them to a 27-11 overall record with a 17-2 league play record while earning a fifth place finish in the HHSAA State Tournament.

Giulia Rodrigues:
Hailing from West Boca Raton via Brazil, Rodrigues joins SCF as a defensive specialist after graduating from West Boca Raton High School in Boca Raton.
As a senior for the Bulls, Rodrigues help lead them to the FHSAA 6A State Tournament where she finished her senior year with six aces and one assist.

Adlene Jideofor:
A middle blocker from North Miami via Nigeria, Jideofor joins the Manatees after graduating from North Miami Senior High School in Miami.

Jideofor’s junior year was promising as she finished with 149 kills, 31 aces, 22 blocks (19 solo) and 320 digs. Despite the Pioneers going 9-12 overall with a 5-7 in the 9A District, she earned an honorable mention on the All-Dade Team.

Her senior year was the most effective as she helped the Pioneers to a 16-6 overall record with a unblemished 7-0 record in the 6A District 15 standings while finishing her senior campaign with 154 kills, 83 aces, 33 blocks (26 solo) and 370 digs.

Laugene Arnsby
Another local product, Arnsby is a setter from Riverview High School in Sarasota. She comes in as a two-sport athlete playing both volleyball and basketball for the Rams.

Arnsby helped the Rams to a 22-7 overall record with a 3-0 record in the FHSAA 7A District where they made it as far as the regional semifinals of the 7A state tournament.

Kayla David:
At only 5’7”, David, a middle blocker from Spring Hill, Florida, joins the Manatees after graduating from Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High.

David was a three-sport athlete where she played volleyball (indoor and sand) and basketball. In volleyball, she played all fours years at the varsity level and finished her career with 160 kills and 85 blocks (49 solo). She helped lead the Hurricanes to four straight FHSAA State Tournament appearances.

Her junior year was her best showing as she helped lead the team to an almost unblemished 30-1 overall record with a 6-0 league record before becoming runner-up in the FHSAA 3A State Tournament.

As a member of the basketball team, David averaged six points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game in two seasons (16-17, 18-19) with the 2018-19 season being her most productive year where she averaged eight points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.

Jaydn Wallen:

An outside hitter out of Fort Myers, Wallen joins the team after graduating from Evangelical Christian High School.

After playing three years of varsity for the Sentinels, Wallen finished her career with 665 kills, 580 digs, 133 aces and 78 blocks (38 solo). During her career, she led the Sentinels to the playoffs for three straight seasons (two as a member of the FHSAA 3A district, one as a member of the FHSAA 2A district).

In her junior campaign, Wallen was named a member of the 2018 News-Press All-Area Second Team while finishing with 195 kills, 200 digs, 43 aces and 19 blocks (12 solo).


Her most productive year was her senior year as she finished with 251 kills, 208 digs, 52 aces and 23 blocks (six solo).

Faith Blaise:
Joining her fellow teammate Jideofor, Blaise, a right side hitter, joins the Manatees after graduating from North Miami Senior High School.

Blaise played her last two seasons on varsity finishing with 122 kills, 143 aces, 637 digs and 25 blocks (16 solo). 

Her senior year was the most productive as she finished with 60 kills, 74 aces, 327 digs and 11 blocks (eight solo).

Carolina Moffatt:

Moffatt, a middle blocker from Gainesville, joins the Manatees after graduating from Cornerstone Academy.

Playing the last two seasons on varsity for the Cougars, Moffatt finished with 71 career kills, 31 solo blocks, 45 aces and 262 digs. While her senior was her most productive in stats (57 kills, 28 solo blocks, 23 aces and 119 digs), her junior year helped the Cougars to a 16-6 overall record with a 5-2 league record in the FHSAA 2A District and a spot in the regional semifinals of FHSAA 2A State Tournament while she added 14 kills, three blocks, 22 aces and 143 digs).

Scouting Indian River State:
The Pioneers finished last season 14-9 overall with a 3-3 record in the Southern Conference. They did not make it to the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 State Tournament. 

Side Note: Not to be confused with the NCAA Southern Conference.


The Pioneers will lose seven players: Jacki Schmitz, Jada Bivins, Ayanna Henry, Caitlyn Leadabrand, Erin Ergle and Valentina Beltran.

Schmitz (Niagara) and Bivins (Morgan State) are currently continuing their collegiate volleyball careers at the D1 level.

Key returners for the Pioneers include Tessa Raadsheer, Mallory Roney, Kaitlyn Chavarria and Jasmine Sayre.

Raadsheer and Roney both lead the Pioneers offense with 229 kills and 153 digs each. Raadsheer 25 aces and 24 blocks, while Roney added 23 aces and 26 blocks. Both were also named on the All-Southern Conferece First Team. 

Sayre is one of the two returning anchors for the Pioneers’ defense as she finished last season with 298 digs and 22 aces. She was named as a member of the All-Southern Conference Second Team.

Chavarria lead the team with 54 blocks (13 solo) to go along with 76 kills.

Scouting Palm Beach State:
The Panthers are coming off of a 7-14 overall record with a 1-5 record in the Southern Conference.

The Panthers will be without six players: Aleksandra Hamuda, Sydney Asher, Bella Magrino, Natalie Kordt, Madison Monahan and Martha Torres.

Hamuda (Emmanuel College: NCAA DII), Kordt (North Alabama) and Monahan (St. Francis Brooklyn) have decided to continue playing for their collegiate careers with Kordt playing on the beach volleyball team with North Alabama.

Madison Barton is the leading offensive returner. Barton finished her freshman campaign with 161 kills (third on the team), 203 digs (fourth on the team) 14 aces (tied second on the team) and 69 blocks (13 solo, third on the team). She was named as one of four players on the All-Southern Conference Second Team.

Scouting FSCJ:
The Sharks are coming off of finishing last season 29-3 overall with a perfect 6-0 record in the Southern Conference, while being ranked No. 4 in the nation. Additionally, they not only won the Southern Conference Regular Season Championship, but they won the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 State Tournament to qualify for the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas where they went 3-1and finished in third place. 

Currently, the Sharks are set to be ranked No. 2 in the nation.
They will be without seven players, which include their lead offensive players in Scherine Dahouse, Yaniris Miller-Green, Vanda Zimoa and Kimberlie Apolinario-Correa. Zimoa, Miller-Green and Apolinario-Correa were also key defensive players for blocks with Zimoa (122) and Miller-Green (117) each had over 100 total blocks. Additionally, Miller-Green was named Southern Conference Player of the Year.

Key returners for the Sharks include Erika Asencio, Ana Araujo, 
Camila De La Rosa and Paola Pimentel.

Asencio finished third highest offensively as she had 318 kills (third on the team), 19 aces and 367 digs. She was named a member of the All-Southern Conference Second Team.
The Sharks will primarily play a double setter rotation as both Araujo and De La Rosa combined for 1,426 assists with De La Rosa leading with 1,200 of them. De La Rosa was named on the All-Southern Conference First Team.
Pimentel will be the lead defensive anchors as she finished with 579 digs.

Scouting PHSC:
The Lady Bobcats finished last season 11-14 overall with a 4-6 record in the DII Sun Lakes Conference (fifth place finish).

The Lady Bobcats are led by head coach Deann Newton, who enters her fourth season with the Lady Bobcats and third season as head coach. Newton was named the Sun Lakes Conference Coach of the Year during the 2018 season.

The Lady Bobcats will lose six sophomores with four continuing to play collegiate volleyball, including their lead offensive player Arianna Colon, lead defensive players in Linsey Christianson and Alyssa Lake and setter Morgan Bullinger.

Colon, who led the team with 253 kills and 22 blocks (13 solo) while being named a member of the Sun Lakes All-Tournament Team, will be continuing to play collegiate volleyball at NCAA DII Catawba College in Salisbury, NC. 

The Indians finished last season 7-19 overall with a 5-17 record in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) for a ninth-place finish.

Christianson lead the Bobcats with 494 digs while adding 75 assists and nine aces. She will be attending NAIA Bethel University in McKenzie, TN.

The Wildcats finished last season 22-13 overall with an 11-2 record in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) for second place overall. They would qualify for the SSAC Tournament before falling in the semifinals. As of 2020, the Wildcats have left the SSAC and will now be competing in the Mid-South Conference (MSC).

Lake finished second on the team with 41 blocks (24 solo) and 65 kills and will finishing her collegiate volleyball career at NCAA DII Coker College in Hartsville, SC.

The Cobras finished last season 7-20 overall with a 4-18 record in the SAC for a 10th-place finish.

Bullinger will continue playing volleyball at NCAA DII Northwest Oklahoma State University in Alva, OK. She finished her sophomore campaign with 14 kills and 22 assists.

The Rangers finished last season 23-11 overall with a 12-4 record in the Great American Conference (GAC) for a second place finish before falling in the semifinals of the GAC Tournament.

The Lady Bobcats will have one returning offensive player in Brooke Sereda. Sereda finished her freshman campaign with 211 kills (second on the team), 264 digs (third on the team) and 26 blocks (13 solo). Sereda was named a member of the All-Sun Lakes Second Team.

Setter Mary Lowe will also be making her return with the Bobcats. Lowe led the team in assists (630) and was second on the team in digs (324).

Mariella Haimes will be returning likely as the starting libero after finishing her freshman campaign with 202 digs (third on the team) and 13 aces (second on the team).

Defensively, the Bobcats will bring back middle blocker Seytia Hill. Hill led the team with 63 blocks (42 solo) to go along with 89 kills (fourth on the team).
Series History:

The Manatees are 8-8 against the Panthers, 2-15 against the Sharks, 4-8 against the Panthers and 3-5 against the Pioneers.

How to Keep Up:
Fans can keep up with all four teams on Twitter:

SCF: @SCFVolleyball
IRS: @IRSVB
PBSC: @PBSCPanthers
MDC: @MDCSHARKS
PHSC: @PHSCVolleyball

No comments:

Featured Post

Bobo-McKenzie Named Head VB Coach

Bradenton, Fla - Following Lynn Burnett's departure to run the indoor and beach volleyball program at New College of Florida and an exte...