The Vero Beach High School varsity volleyball team was defeated by Martin County last week (23-25, 25-22, 6-25, 23-25) snapping a 32-match district winning streak and ushering in the beginning of an intense rivalry between these two high profile programs.
Both schools have won six district championships in a row, with MC capturing the Class 7A state title in 2011. They are now going head-to-head in Class 8A, District 8 for the first time this year.
Second-year VB Head Coach Jessica Singewald, whose team includes several island residents, welcomes the challenge. The two teams have another regular season match in Stuart on Oct. 1 prior to the district tournament later in the month.
“We have a very talented team and if we keep our heads on straight, we could be the best team down here,” Singewald said. “I’m working on our confidence right now, but I really believe we could be unstoppable.”
Singewald has a simple philosophy that keeps everything in perspective. “You really have to do the best you can,” she said. “I really wasn’t expecting a whole lot last year because it was my first season. I didn’t know the girls that well and wasn’t able to mold them into the team I wanted them to be.
“But we ended up winning the district title and did really well for ourselves. It’s a coin toss every year with the team you have. I believe in focusing on the girls, building them up, and letting them be the true athletes that they are.
“As long as we’re playing at our best, I think we will be fine this year. Martin County is the No. 1 team for us to focus on – and beat. Ultimately I believe we are No. 1 here, so we’ll see how it goes the rest of the season.”
Singewald grew up in Port St. Lucie and played varsity volleyball at Centennial, which is also a member of District 8 along with Fort Pierce Central and Treasure Coast. The 2015 district tournament will be held at her alma mater.
She was the first girl from Centennial to get a volleyball scholarship and went on to play for two years each at South Florida State College and Lees-McRae College in North Carolina. After college she moved to Kentucky where she taught special-needs children and coached middle school and club volleyball teams.
VBHS Athletic Director Lenny Jankowski spotted her resume on line and convinced her to return to her roots.
“He said I was the best option for this program,” Singewald said of her lengthy telephone conversation with her future boss. “I knew that VBHS always had a great program, so I was a little scared because I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.
“I thought about it, secured a teaching position (next door at Vero Beach Elementary), packed up the car, and came down here. My first day here we hit the ground running.”
The freshman though senior classes are equally represented on Singewald’s 2015 roster of 12. The talent is also evenly spread throughout, with a particularly strong trio of sophomores.
“I tell the girls all the time that they are all very, very talented.” Singewald said. ”But if you want to watch some very powerful hitting, definitely look at Anna Demeter, our middle; Eliza Biedenharn, our outside; and Lindsay Barkett, our other outside.
“Then if you want to see some phenomenal blocking, Taylor Story will put the roof on someone. Our outsides and our middles are definitely worth watching, especially for college recruiters.”
Demeter is a senior. Biedenharn, Barkett and Story are only sophomores. Demeter and Barkett emphasized the teamwork required for their individual success.
“When you get that kill, it’s one of the best feelings ever,” Demeter explained. “It’s a lot of fun when you hear a big crowd cheering and get the momentum and adrenaline going.
“The loss to MC was very disappointing, but at the same time a lot of people didn’t expect us to put up a very good fight. The fact that we gave them a run for their money was really great. I’m very proud of my team.”
Demeter also kills in the classroom. She was a straight-A student last year and plans to concentrate solely on academics at Florida State or the University of Florida.
Like Demeter, Barkett will likely choose the more casual club volleyball route in college, especially if she lands in the Ivy League several years down the road.
“You could say I come from an athletic family,” Barkett said. “My mom played volleyball in college and I got a good feel for the game when I was little.
“Hitting winners is a lot of fun, especially when the other team has a good defense. When we get a good dig, and the center sets a perfect ball, and you have the entire court to work with, you know you’re going to put it away because of all the hard work your teammates just did to get the ball to you.
“Our coach teaches little kids and we are a little immature sometimes, too. She’s doing a really good job of stressing that we all get along with each other on and off the court. “We really want to be with each other thanks to her.”
After the MC match, VBHS (6-6, 4-1 district) got back on track by defeating Fort Pierce Central in straight sets.
