About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VERO BEACH – The St. Edward's School volleyball team wants to prove last year's trip to the state championship match was no fluke.
To book their trip to states, the Pirates had to defeat an opponent for the third time this season.
"It's hard," junior Margaret Fykes said. "We go in knowing we can beat them, but then they are coming back trying to beat you to prove themselves. It gets harder every time you play. You want to prove it wasn't an accident you beat them."
In the toughest match of the three with the Brevard HEAT out of Palm Bay, St. Edward's gutted out a 3-1 victory, 25-17, 25-22, 21-25, 25-19 in the Class 1A-Region 2 final in front of a packed house at the Pirates' cozy gymnasium.
St. Edward’s hosts Brevard HEAT in a Region 2-1A Final, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Halle Grella (10) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Violet Clemente (9) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s hosts Brevard HEAT in a Region 2-1A Final, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Grace Fykes (1) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Maddie Moscrip (14) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Nevin Waddell (11) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Nevin Waddell (11) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Violet Clemente (9) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Grace Clemente (13) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Nevin Waddell (11) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s hosts Brevard HEAT in a Region 2-1A Final, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Violet Clemente (9) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s hosts Brevard HEAT in a Region 2-1A Final, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Grace Clemente (13) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Camilla Dadufalza (3) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Nevin Waddell (11) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Anastasia Headley (16) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Nevin Waddell (11) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Grace Clemente (13) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s hosts Brevard HEAT in a Region 2-1A Final, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Maddie Moscrip (14) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) St. Edward’s Grace Fykes (1) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 1 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s hosts Brevard HEAT in a Region 2-1A Final, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 1 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s hosts Brevard HEAT in a Region 2-1A Final, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 2 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Halle Grella (10) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 3 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Violet Clemente (9) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 4 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s hosts Brevard HEAT in a Region 2-1A Final, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 5 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Grace Fykes (1) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 6 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Maddie Moscrip (14) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 7 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Nevin Waddell (11) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 8 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Nevin Waddell (11) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 9 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Violet Clemente (9) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 10 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Grace Clemente (13) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 11 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Nevin Waddell (11) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 12 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s hosts Brevard HEAT in a Region 2-1A Final, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 13 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Violet Clemente (9) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 14 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s hosts Brevard HEAT in a Region 2-1A Final, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 15 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Grace Clemente (13) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 16 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Camilla Dadufalza (3) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 17 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Nevin Waddell (11) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 18 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Anastasia Headley (16) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 19 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Nevin Waddell (11) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 20 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Grace Clemente (13) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 21 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s hosts Brevard HEAT in a Region 2-1A Final, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 22 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Maddie Moscrip (14) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) 23 / 23 High school volleyball: St. Edward's hosts Brevard HEAT in Region 2-1A Final St. Edward’s Grace Fykes (1) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. (KAILA JONES/ TCPALM) More: Meet the Treasure Coast's four volleyball district champions
Volleyball Roundup: Legacy, Pine, St. Edward's advance to Region finals
Watch the best high school sports in Florida
"We showed up grittier knowing this is our third time playing them," Fykes said. "They're going to show up grittier, so we showed up there's no guarantee we're winning this game. Every time we play each other we're different teams.
"We came in with an open mind, knowing anything can happen tonight. It was like proving to ourselves that we are the team we are meant to be."
St. Edward’s Nevin Waddell (11) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. Having defeated the Firehawks, 3-1, during the regular season and sweeping them, 3-0, in the district final, the Pirates had to play the cat-and-mouse game of tweaking some things while staying with what got them the two victories in the first place.
"Absolutely, there's always pressure this late in the season. It's especially hard to beat a team three times," St. Edward's first-year coach Kelsey Fox said. "The energy from the other team was spectacular. They played us hard. They definitely found our weaknesses.
"We had to play within ourselves to make the adjustments."
Fox tinkered with the lineups and matchups and different kinds of spacing on the floor to keep the Firehawks honest.
St. Edward’s Camilla Dadufalza (3) in a Region 2-1A Final against Brevard HEAT, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. In the first set, St. Edward's broke a 7-all tie with five straight points, including a pair of aces by junior liberto Madeline Moscrip to take a lead it never relinquished.
The Pirates came back from deficits of 4-0, 6-1, 8-3, 10-4, 12-6 and 18-15 before ripping off six consecutive points to take control of the second set. Eighth-grader Violet Clemente, who had an outstanding match, served four aces, while sophomore Grace Clemente had two kills in the run.
St. Edward's looked as if it would notch another sweep, jumping out early in the third set behind the hitting of Violet Clemente.
But the Brevard HEAT, with a strong fanbase on hand, scored four straight points to break a 17-all deadlock and go on to hand the Pirates their first set loss since a 3-2 victory over Legacy High on Oct. 6.
It was a 5-0 run that broke an 8-all tie that put St. Edward's in command in the fourth set. Junior Nevin Waddell had two kills and Violet Clemente one in the run.
"I would say probably around a 7 or 8," Fox said on rating her team's performance on a scale of 1 to 10. "We've had better, more in sync matches, but probably not our best.
St. Edward’s hosts Brevard HEAT in a Region 2-1A Final, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. Violet Clemente finished with 15 kills and 5 aces. Grace Clemente ended with 13 kills and an ace. Waddell chipped in with 11 kills. Sophomore middle Anastasia Headley contributed 8 kills and an ace.
Fykes, who had two kills of her own, spread the ball around to all the hitters and was the calming influence on the floor when the Pirates' lost their shape.
"She's phenomenal," Fox said. "She's a stellar athlete in general. She sets in every physical position. She is very constant, which the girls rely on. She brings everybody's temperature down a little bit when it needs to be."
Ranked 99th in the state and 7th in 1A, the Brevard HEAT finished 23-6 with half of its losses coming to the Pirates.
With its fourth straight win over the Firehawks, St. Edward's evened the all-time series at 10 matches apiece.
St. Edward’s hosts Brevard HEAT in a Region 2-1A Final, Oct. 27, 2026, in Vero Beach. Ranked 59th in the state and 4th in Class 1A behind Boca Raton Christian, Naples Seacrest Country Day and Bradenton Christian – all of which reached the regional finals – St. Edward's (22-4) extended its winning streak to nine straight matches.
The Pirates' losses this season are to Fort Myers Bishop Verot, John Carroll Catholic, Vero Beach High and Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest School, all of which reached the regional semifinals in their respective classes.
Last year, St. Edward's reached the 1A State Championship match. Advancing to the Final 4 for the first time in program history, the Pirates defeated Jacksonville Harvest Community in the state semifinals, 3-2, before losing the title match to Boca Raton Christian, 3-0.
"I think so. I think there is a lot of pressure to prove it's not an accident. It wasn't a fluke," Fykes said. "And now we actually deserve to be in the Final 4. We are trying to prove we are meant to be there."
St. Edward's is being led by a different coach this season, as Fox took over for Seth Brassard.
"She came in knowing we are a talented team, and we all have different abilities and qualities," Fykes said of Fox. "She honed in on all of our special abilities so everyone can play well."
"The biggest thing this team has learned throughout the season is that they physically have the talent to do whatever they want to do," Fox said. "It's the mental challenge is the constant reminder they have to stay locked in mentally and pull each other to pull this through."
With two seniors – Piper McCollom and Halle Grella – St. Edward's has an abundance of talented underclassmen that can make the Final 4 run a common occurrence.
If there is one lesson Fykes said her team will take into the state semifinals Nov. 2 at Polk State College in Winter Haven: "That we deserve to be there.
"Going in there was a mystery with St. Edward's. So going in with that confidence that we deserve to be there. Going in with that confidence is going to make us play our best volleyball."
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: St. Edward's returns to states, outlasts Brevard HEAT in Region Final
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
Source: Sports
0 Comments