Matanzas pulls out five-set volleyball win against Seabreeze

The Sandcrabs won the first and fourth sets. The Pirates prevailed in the final set, 15-11.

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Message to Matanzas’ volleyball opponents: Don’t get into a fifth set against the Pirates. The odds are not in your favor.

Matanzas improved to 7-2 on the season and 4-0 in five-set matches with a 3-2 victory over Seabreeze on Sept. 10 at the Pirates’ gym. Matanzas won the fifth set 15-11 to take the back-and forth match.


I think both teams did a great job. I had no idea which way it was going to go.
— JANET BRUCE, Seabreeze volleyball coach

“It was very exciting,” Seabreeze coach Janet Bruce said. “I think both teams did a great job. I had no idea which way it was going to go. I can't wait to get to play them again at our house.”

Seabreeze won a tight first set 25-21. After Matanzas won the next two sets by 25-17 scores, the Sandcrabs held off the Pirates 25-23 to send the match to the deciding final set.

“I figured it was going to go down to the wire,” Matanzas coach Sharell Arneaud said. “Seabreeze is a really good team. They’re well-coached. Their hitters take advantage of seams. They were controlled. We definitely had to work to be smarter in the game.”

Bruce said the Seabreeze blockers were excited to go up against Pirates outside hitter Sanigh Arneaud, a Rollins College commitment.

“She’s obviously a major hitter,” Bruce said. “She’s very powerful. Even when she was warming up, when she hit one straight down, the whole floor shook. So we're like, ‘wow, that's crazy.’ But they were excited that they were blocking her and everything, so it kind of kept her at bay.”

Sanigh Arneaud finished with a match-high 18 kills. Teammate Sofia Kubler had 16 kills and was in on seven blocks.

“I was sick all day, so I drank a lot of orange juice and the sickness went away,” Kubler said. “This was like the best our court did all together. I just love playing with these girls.”

Seabreeze middle blocker Carley Bandell led all players in the match with seven solo blocks and eight assisted blocks. Sophomore Baylee Brown had a career high 12 kills for the Sandcrabs.

“My hitters and blockers did a great job,” Bruce said. “But they were getting us on tips. So, that's something we got to work on. The defense, we’re just going to have to work on a lot of things and be ready for the next time.”

For most of the match, the Sandcrabs handled the hits that got over the front row. Seabreeze had 76 digs with Lilli Litz leading the way with 23.  

Sharell Arneaud said after the close fourth set, the Pirates adjusted to the openings the Sandcrabs were giving them.

“We were telling them to find other shots. Don't just go for the strongest shot that you can make,” she said.

Syrenity Arneaud and Aliya Lugo-Navas had 17 digs apiece for the Pirates. Matanzas setters Syrenity Arneaud (30) and Haley Stewart (20) combined for 50 assists. Breanna Dicks had 23 assists for Seabreeze.

Following the loss, the Sandcrabs (6-4) split two matches on Sept. 11 in the JJVA River City Classic in Jacksonville. Matanzas will try to avenge one of its two losses with a home match against St. Augustine on Tuesday, Sept. 15. Seabreeze and Matanzas will meet again on Sept. 28 at the Sandcrabs’ gym.

 

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