FLEMING ISLAND – Fleming Island has been battling with Ponte Vedra for so long in volleyball that Golden Eagle coach Amy Yoder-Schermerhorn might think 2024 may be a wisp of fresh air with a new district, but...

“Not really, we got Middleburg and Ridgeview in the district now,” said senior libero Macy Opp. “That has been two rivals of ours for a while with Ridgeview the team that we want to get a step on. Middleburg, of course, is the defending state champion and they will come loaded. I think the Ridgeview game is a bigger rivalry for us than Middleburg.”

Last year’s district had powerhouses Ponte Vedra, Fletcher and Nease in it with Yoder, going with a strong 19-7 season record, taking district tournament games from Oakleaf and Fletcher, but, darn it, not Ponte Vedra, who, at 15-14, continued and lost to Chiles in the region 6A final.

For 2024, District 3-5A includes Fleming Island, Clay, Middleburg, Ridgeview, Orange Park and ED White as the lone non-county team with Ponte Vedra not far away in District 4-5A as a possible region playoff stop.

For Fleming Island’s set of senior returners; Macy Opp, Savannah Jackson, Bailey Montgomery, Avery Henson, Kaylee Kirkland and Emily Topp, the experience on the team will compensate for a lack of height at the net besides incoming freshman Lilly Eason, the younger sister to power-hitter Rauly Eason, who graduated as one of Yoder’s prime attack hitters last year with 258 Kills; 714 in her career at Fleming Island.

“I think Lilly coming in now is as strong a player as many freshmen, if not better, and give her to me for three years and she will be a dominant player,” said Yoder, herself a dominant net striker at Fleming Island and at Southeastern University. “Savannah (Jackson, 155 Kills) is a great jumper and came on strong last year with Emily (Topp, 127 Kills) and Kaylee (Kirkland, 116 Kills) both being good net strikers.”

Junior hitter Ava Zayakosky returns after a summer run to club nationals in Las Vegas and brings a strong presence at the net.

Fleming Island opens up at the Bishop Kenny Preseason Tournament (August 17) before opening at Fletcher on August 20.