George Jenkins volleyball secured a 3-0 victory over Davenport in the Class 6A District 8 semifinals on Tuesday, earning a spot in the district final for the second consecutive year under head coach Jena Ousley. The match, held at George Jenkins High School, saw the Eagles tighten their passing and attack to outclass a Davenport squad that had won six of its last seven matches.
Senior outside hitter Rhianna Burns led the charge with 19 kills, 11 digs, and four receptions, while fellow senior Sydney Morrison contributed 40 assists, 24 points, 10 kills, and eight digs. Junior setter Aubrey Bailey also played a crucial role, recording 13 digs, 11 receptions, nine assists, eight points, four aces, and two kills. The Eagles’ ability to consistently pass on serve-receive to their setter made them difficult to counter throughout the match.
Coach Ousley acknowledged the challenges the team faced this season, which included tough losses to top teams like Calvary Christian, ranked No. 2 in the state, and McKeel. “We’ve had a lot of tough competition all season. We got back in a groove. The team was positive,” she said. The victory over Davenport appears to have restored some momentum ahead of their next match.
Davenport entered the semifinals after a strong season, finishing with 21 wins despite losing six seniors from the previous year. Head coach Jorge Rivera credited his team’s steady approach and internal communication for their success. “I told them, you have to do step by step. Keep building, because you don’t know what can happen. Everything is unexpected. The only thing you have to do is just go day by day. And this is our goal. We did it,” Rivera said.
The main obstacle for Davenport during the season was communication, but Rivera’s efforts to hold team meetings and listen to players helped tighten the squad. Key contributors included sophomore outside hitter Keilany Alvarez, who led in kills, junior right-side hitter Maria Camacho, junior middle blocker Brynn Shelton who led in blocks, junior Yarizel Lopez, the top digger, and senior setter Kamila Gonzalez with the most assists. The core of the team is expected to return for the 2027 season.
The decisive third set against George Jenkins summed up the season-long performances of Burns and Morrison. Morrison recorded a crucial block, followed by a kill from Burns that sealed the match. George Jenkins’ ability to maintain control through precise passing and aggressive attacking proved too much for Davenport.
George Jenkins will face Winter Haven, which holds a 22-4 record, in the district final at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Winter Haven. The Eagles enter the match with a 12-12 record, looking to build on back-to-back district final appearances under Ousley’s leadership.
According to Yahoo Sports.
