OAKLEAF - Oakleaf High volleyball coach Jamie Reed had the biggest exodus of scholarship players from her 2025 team. Six players now in college, as area teams finished up tryouts last week, and they look forward to the first rounds of preseason tournaments at Bishop Kenny and at Jacksonville Junior Volleyball Association.

"We lost all six starters and they are all in college," Reed said. "Morgan Ansley has already reported; Jiyanna Rivera is reporting in a week or so; Kelsey Joshua already reported; April Townsend and Jiyanna are at the same school; and Gabby Humbles reports out in a week. They have all been back training and practicing with the girls."

Reed, in her fourth season, notes that her season has two positive components — enjoying their teammates, and preparing for college, if that's a goal.

"I want them to enjoy the school spirit here," Reed said. "I don't want it to be a job. If college isn't on the horizon, that's cool, too."

With that, Reed knows her task as the 2026 season comes to a start is to find new faces and fill the empty spots as well as enter a new district with county rivals Middleburg and Ridgeview.

The new district 3-5A features Oakleaf, Middleburg (region semifinals), Ridgeview, Clay, Orange Park and Final Four finisher Gainesville in a Region 1-5A lineup featuring powerhouses like Niceville, Ponte Vedra (region semifinals) and Bartram Trail.

"We have some key pieces coming back with Lilly Feagle, a top senior as last year's second middle hitter," Reed said. "Nicole Kauffman is a senior setter coming back, so we have two important pieces already here. Abbi Capuzzo is also a backline defender coming back."

Oakleaf will travel to the JJVA Preseason Knockout Tournament with Keystone Heights and Orange Park also scheduled to compete.

Orange Park will have a familiar face on the sideline as long time assistant coach Hannah Smith takes over for Scott Conklin.

Smith brings a wealth of college experience at the highest level with two years at Utah State University and then the University of South Florida.

Smith, who will look to turn around a 3-21 record last year, will have good corps of starters back, led by hitter Emma Weber back (145 kills), but without Kai Longmire (now at Clay).

"That's part of the sport and we will work with who is here," Smith said. "Hailey Ingham returns as libero and that helps to have a strong director of the ball on the back line."

Coincidentally, the first game of the season for Smith and Reed will be against each other on Aug. 18.

Middleburg coach Meredith Forkum graduated one daughter, Brooke, to Troy University, while swaying two of three daughters, Paige and Reese, to rebuild a Bronco legacy that features the Rahn sisters, Camden and Connor, both now at the University of Tampa.

"We have Maysie Bader back up front and Allie Anschuetz on the back line, but we graduated a ton of players," said Forkum, noting Rahn, Kate Lowery, Kathryn White, Gracie Bingham, Ally Lowery, Haley Fugate, Chloe McWatters and Hannah Gorneault all missing from the lineup.

Rahn and Lowery combined for 606 kills last year with Bader adding 98 with a team-leading 14 blocks up front.

Forkum will have sophomore Abbie Grybb back as a 6-foot-3 net presence with the freshman getting good net time last year for the Broncos.

Middleburg will travel to Bishop Kenny for their annual preseason Tournament of Champions with Fleming Island and Ridgeview.

For Fleming Island, lead smasher Lily Eason and second leading smasher Lauren Brosky will return, with a new player up front, Fleming Island High weightlifter state placer Zahaviah Sanders.

"She's a great athlete that played volleyball before she found weightlifting and comes back with a lot of power and some ups for sure," said coach Amy Yoder. "She will definitely be a factor very quickly."

Yoder loses two key net players up front with Hazel Williams and Saniya Robinson, who both graduated. But the third prong up front, Kaylee Clark, comes back to protect the net with her team-leading 50 blocks last year.

Out at Keystone Heights, coach Kaitlyn Cline-Walker will get state-ranked hitter Mia Rivera (372 kills) back for a final season, and the return of the team's best setter, Kaleigh Marquart (717 assists), both ranked fourth last year in Class 3A.

Clay, 13-12 last year, had a strong finish to their season with five wins in the six final games. The Blue Devils lost to Middleburg in districts and ended their season. Coach Kelsey Shannon loses top hitter Myla Barker (160 kills), but brings back McKenzie Harris (157 kills). Orange Park High transfer Kai Longmire will add firepower to the front line.

"Kai is very athletic and very smart up front and will be a big part of our attack with McKenzie and Grace Bass returning," Shannon said. "We have some very good-looking freshman including Lilly Massey up front to add more height."

Ridgeview coach Sarah Anderson, 15-7, loses her big gun in Kara Reed (158 kills), but has Colette Jones back (156 kills). Three key seniors who departed, include four-year starting back line Payton Cannon, Adan Benda (42 blocks) and Tiaunna McDonald (38 blocks).

St. Johns Country Day School coach Amy Walker, 8-17, returns with double the Proffitts —  Kendall and Brynley — to bolster one of the largest tryouts in the gym.

"We are a year better, we are a year more mature from a volleyball mature standpoint," Walker said. "The kids put in the work and, from the first day of tryouts, it was a completely different look. The biggest improvement is how to be mentally tough in competitive situations; to appreciate the pressure and adapt."