Williston Volleyball Punches Ticket to State Final Four Under First-Year Interim Coach
A four-set win over Crescent City sends Williston to Winter Haven, while Branford sweeps its way back to state for a fourth straight year.
Williston survives a four-set test
The Williston Red Devils are headed to the state Final Four after outlasting Crescent City in a four-set volleyball match that swung back and forth before settling in Williston’s favor, 25-15, 22-25, 25-20, 26-24, according to WCJB TV20. The tight fourth set, decided by two points after a 24-24 tie, capped a run that has seen Williston win five straight matches.
That streak includes district and regional titles, won in the first season under interim head coach Meagan Gladwell. Gladwell took over the program on August 31 and has led the Red Devils to the state semifinal in her debut year at the helm, a turnaround for a Levy County school now one win from a state championship appearance.
Williston’s next match is Monday in Winter Haven, where the Red Devils will learn their Final Four opponent as part of the state tournament bracket. No further scheduling details were provided in the report.
Branford returns to state for the fourth year running
To the north, in neighboring Suwannee County, the Branford Buccaneers kept their own streak alive with a straight-set sweep of Aucilla Christian, 25-16, 25-11, 25-14. The win sends Branford back to the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year, with a chance to defend last year’s Rural state title.
Head coach Hank Rone, who has guided Branford through this run of state appearances, is still chasing his first state championship with the program despite the team’s sustained success at the regional level.
What it means for the Nature Coast
Volleyball postseason runs by Williston and Branford put two programs with Nature Coast and North Central Florida roots into the state spotlight this fall. For Levy County, Williston’s trip to the Final Four marks a notable result for a program navigating a midseason coaching change, Gladwell’s elevation from interim status to a full district and regional title run is the kind of story that resonates locally regardless of Monday’s outcome in Winter Haven.
Branford’s continued presence at state, now a fourth straight year, reflects a program with sustained depth, even as the Buccaneers continue looking for that elusive state title under Rone.
Neither match report specifies classification details, bracket seeding, or broadcast information beyond the results and the Monday date in Winter Haven. Readers looking for the Florida High School Athletic Association’s official state tournament bracket and schedule should consult FHSAA directly, as that information was not included in the original report.
Florida & Cedar Key News will follow Williston’s Final Four match Monday and track any further Rural state tournament results involving Branford as they become available through local sports coverage.