State leader in blocks does so much more for Seabreeze volleyball team

Carley Bandell had four blocks, eight kills and eight digs in Sandcrabs' win over Father Lopez

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Seabreeze middle blocker Carley Bandell had four blocks in the Sandcrabs’ 3-0 volleyball victory at Father Lopez on Thursday, Oct. 9. That’s a good night for most every middle blocker, but it’s below average for the 5-foot-11 junior who leads the state and is fifth in the nation in total blocks with 169, which is more than double the national team average.

Bandell also led the Sandcrabs in kills against the Green Wave with eight and she had eight digs.


“She was on it tonight,” said junior setter Brianna Dicks. “She's a middle blocker and plays back row after she serves, and she plays like a libero back there.”

Seabreeze relies on its middle blockers quite a bit. Junior Haven Price is third in the state and 26th in the nation with 130 blocks. Bandell and Price are also among five Seabreeze players who have 98 or more kills on the season.

“We often go to our middles,” Dicks said. “We like our outsides, but those middles know how to kill it.”

But Bandell is more than a blocker and a hitter.

“She’s definitely an all-around player,” Seabreeze coach Janet Bruce said. “As a middle blocker, she can come into the back row, and she's digging everything up, covers great. And she's able to set the ball. She does a great job as the libero when she's in the back row, which is odd for a middle blocker, especially as tall as she is.”

Bandell has had six matches with 10 or more total blocks. She also has 81 digs and 125 kills on the season.

“I love it when my setters give her the ball because she just slams it down,” Bruce said. “It's awesome to watch her. She's only a junior, so we have her for next year, which will be great.”

Seabreeze defeated Father Lopez 25-17, 25-19 and 25-14 in the final regular-season match for both teams. The Sandcrabs head into the District 6-5A tournament with a 14-10 record. They are seeded fourth and will host fifth seed Pine Ridge at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 13. Seabreeze played Pine Ridge three times during the season, winning twice. 

The Sandcrabs have been streaky. They opened with eight straight wins, but they also lost seven in a row before winning their final three matches.

“We had a little hiccup in the middle of the season, but we got through it, and now we're ready for districts,” Bruce said.

Before the match, Father Lopez (7-14) honored its seven seniors: Fern Sheridan, Isabella Bosinski, Evynn Roberson, Addie Sheridan and Chloe Wilen.

Seabreeze held its Senior Night on Oct. 7 before its match against Mainland. The Sandcrabs celebrated their four seniors: Victoria Kenyon-Gonzalez, Pearl Kelly, Olivia Chase and Alexandria Dingman.

The Green Wave, seeded fourth in District 3-2A, host fifth seed Winter Park Circle Christian at 7 p.m. Oct. 13. 

 

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