- March 2, 2026
Matanzas lunges for a return during the beach volleyball match against Seabreeze on Wedensday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze's Pearl Kelly pops it over the net in a beach volleyball match against Matanzas on Wedensday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze head beach volleyball coach Janet Bruce center runs through some pointers with her players before the season opener against Matanzas on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas Lazara Kenny serves during the beach volleyball season opener against Seabreeze on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze's Isabella Tedesco serves during the season opener against Matanzas on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas freshman Bella Nong keeps the play alive at the beach volleyball season opener against Seabreeze on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze's Kinley Lang sets during the season opener against Matanzas on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas' Sofia Kubler returns a serve during the beach volleyball season opener against Seabreeze on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze seniors Pearl Kelly (6) and Alex Dingman (11) congratulate each other at the beach volleyball season opener against Matanzas on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas teammates Bella Nong (12) and Amara Valdes (3) crack up during the beach volleyball season opener against Seabreeze on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas injured player Aliya Lugo-Navas (13) directs traffic as teammates warm up before the beach volleyball season opener against Seabreeze on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas' Julisia Wheeler lunges to save the ball during the beach volleyball season opener against Seabreeze on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas and Seabreeze beach volleyball players switch sides during a match at the season opener on Wedensday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze captain Lilli Litz (2) and teammate freshman Baylee Brown (left) congratulate each other after scoring a point at the season opener against Matanzas on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas' Sanigh Arneaud eyes the net as she returns the ball during the season opener against Seabreeze on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze freshman Caroline Adams serves during the season opener against Matanzas on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas' Myranda Valdes (2) lunges for the ball at the season opener against Seabreeze on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze freshman Sienna Dixon sets during the season opener against Matanzas on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas senior Carly Owens dives for the ball at the season opener against Seabreeze on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas Sanigh Arneaud (right) sprints to return the ball as teammate Carly Owens (1) waits at the season opener against Seabreeze on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze captain Lilli Litz (2) pops the ball over the net during the season opener against Matanzas on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze freshman Baylee Brown makes a valiant effort to return the ball during the season opener against Matanzas on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze's Kinley Lang sets executes a reverse hit against Matanzas on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze senior Emily Privette-Stahlman waits for the serve at the season opener against Matanzas on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanza's Sofia Kubler (16) attempts a return as Lazara Kenny (7) waits to assist at the season opener against Seabreeze on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze freshman Sienna Dixon reacts to a call during the season opener against Matanzas on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze opens the beach volleyball season against Matanzas on new sand courts installed on campus November 2025. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas beach volleyball head coach Sharell Arneaud (left) talks to players Myranda Valdes (2) and Julisia Wheeler (15) at the season opener against Seabreeze on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Michele Meyers
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.”