Finally, school is out for summer.
Months in the classroom have given way to rest and relaxation. But before we look forward to vacations in June and July, let’s look back at the school season that was.
Award season has returned to the Treasure Coast as we conclude the 2025-26 high school athletic calendar by unveiling All-Area teams from the spring across 10 different sports.
We begin with beach volleyball, a sport that saw two area teams stand above the rest.
After missing states a season ago, Vero Beach made it back while being ranked among the top teams in the nation, according to MaxPreps. Vero went undefeated on the way to the state final four in Tallahassee while extending its district championship streak to five.
Meanwhile, South Fork made it two district titles in three years after repeating as District 15-2A champions. The Bulldogs earned the top seed in Region 4-2A before bowing out in the regional semifinals and finishing with a 12-4 record.
Top Pairing
Cora Darling (Sr.) and Tori Malone (Sr.), Vero Beach
Representing the area’s top team, Darling and Malone repeat as the area’s top twosome. Fifteen times this senior pairing hit the sand together at the top of Vero’s lineup, and fifteen times they emerged victorious. They dropped only five sets all season long. Darling will play beach volleyball collegiately at Florida Gulf Coast University.
All-Area Team
Ava Bochenek (Sr.) and Hailee Curl (Sr.), South Fork
Finished 13-3 at the top of the Bulldogs lineup.
Ella Campione (Sr.) and Grace Lee (Sr.), Vero Beach
Vero’s No. 3 pairing, losing just once all season.
Ella Gravlee (Jr.) and Kaylee Maikranz (Sr.), Vero Beach
Played nine matches together at No. 2, dropping its only match to state runner-up St. Thomas Aquinas.
Samaya Hennessy (Sr.) and Leah Hester (Jr.), Jensen Beach
Led the Falcons to the district runner-up honors and a berth into regionals.
Josalyn Hernandez (Sr.) and Claritza Lopez (Sr.), St. Lucie West Centennial
13-2 record this season for an Eagles team that finished at 9-5.
Coach of the Year
Matt Heath, Vero Beach
Heath guided his program to its fourth regional title in the last five seasons. Vero stormed through the Region 2-3A bracket, beating Timber Creek, Dwyer and Winter Park without dropping a set. The program remains undefeated in district tournaments as it defeated Viera 4-1 for its fifth consecutive district championship. Vero Beach fell to St. Thomas Aquinas 3-2 in the 3A state semifinal to finish the season at 14-1.
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: TCPalm Spring All-Area: beach volleyball’s best on the Treasure Coast
Reporting by Patrick Bernadeau, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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By Patrick Bernadeau, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
