Home court advantage: Seabreeze sweeps Matanzas in beach volleyball season opener

The Sandcrabs swept the Pirates on their new on-campus sand courts.

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 5:00 p.m. March 2, 2026
  • Ormond Beach Observer
  • Sports
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Seabreeze opened the beach volleyball season with a 5-0 sweep of Matanzas on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the Sandcrabs’ new sand courts.

Matches were played simultaneously across three courts. Sandcrabs’  No. 1 duo Lilli Litz and Baylee Brown defeated Pirates Sanigh Arneaud and Carly Owens, while Seabreeze No. 2 Alex Dingman and Pearl Kelly beat Matanzas’ Sofia Kubler and Lazara Kenny, and the No. 3 Sandcrabs pair of Abigail Mai and Sienna Dixon defeated Julisia Wheeler and Myranda Valdes.

Seabreeze coach Janet Bruce said the majority of her team plays indoor volleyball but lacks the experience playing beach volleyball. They are adjusting to the different rules and the sport’s difficulty, Bruce said.

“Everybody had a great time,” she said. “Both teams came out and did a great job. Everybody’s smiling, and that’s the best part. It’s very relaxed in comparison to indoor, and it’s fun to watch them just smile, even if they make a mistake, because they know it’s a very difficult sport.”

Beach volleyball became a sanctioned FHSAA sport in the spring of 2022. Sara Swayze was the Sandcrabs’ coach at the time. Bruce became Seabreeze’s beach volleyball coach in the spring of 2024 after taking over the indoor volleyball program earlier that school year.

Last year, Bruce knew it would be advantageous to have beach volleyball courts installed on campus. The team had played their matches at a local park with only one court and at rented courts at DME Academy, which is about 30 minutes from the school.

Following the installation of sand courts at DeLand, New Smyrna Beach, and Spruce Creek high schools in 2023, there was sufficient funding remaining to install sand courts at one additional school.

Seabreeze principal Tucker Harris reached out to Volusia County Schools Chief Operating Officer Patricia Corr to inquire about funding availability for the courts. He said his “why” for the request was for the kids, his community and its beach culture.

“We are a beachside institution,” he said. “It just fits our lifestyle. It fits us and what we do. Patty Corr and the district willingly listened and made it happen. It was super smooth — amazing.”

Harris said Bruce has solidified the volleyball program over the past couple of years, and with the on-campus sand courts, more girls have been drawn to the sport. Seabreeze can now host indoor and beach volleyball tournaments, along with regular-season games.

“Having the three new courts on campus has been a game-changer for all of the players,” Bruce said. “They are getting more court time for practicing, and they are all improving their skills faster than in past seasons.”


Having the three new courts on campus has been a game-changer for all of the players. They are getting more court time for practicing, and they are all improving their skills faster than in past seasons.
— JANET BRUCE, Seabreeze beach volleyball coach


This is Matanzas coach Sharell Arneaud’s first year coaching the Pirates' beach volleyball team. She was the head indoor volleyball coach for four years at First Baptist Christian Academy and decided to “step back” from the position last year. When volleyball coach Julie Menendez left Matanzas after taking over the indoor team this past season, Arneaud returned to coaching.

“I am here, and I’m looking forward to working with the girls,” she said.

The Pirates have two players with beach volleyball experience. Like the Sandcrabs, the remaining athletes have only played indoor volleyball.

“I think it’s definitely just an adjustment of recognizing how the passes are different, how the strategy is different compared to indoor, and the rules are different,” Arneaud said. “We’re all learning. I think it’s about them learning how to adjust and read differently than they would do indoor. Where indoor you might have more power, here’s a lot more strategy.”

Seabreeze lost to New Smyrna Beach in District 6-2A championship and in the regional quarterfinals last season. New Smyrna, the local beach volleyball power, advanced to the state championship match last season. The Barracudas won the state championship in 2022 and 2023. 

“I would love to beat New Smyrna Beach, one day,” Bruce said. “They’re a great athletic school, and that’s a goal for everybody. We’re going to work hard to beat them.”

Arneaud said hopefully her players maximize their mental toughness, which will enable them to work through the adversities of a new sport. 

“They did say they were having fun,” she said. “At the end of the day, we’re not winning any prizes, so have fun. I don’t like to lose, but y’all don’t like to lose, so let’s figure out how we move forward next time.”

 

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