September 1, 2025
South Walton Battles 6A Opponent Niceville in Five-Set Thriller
SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. – August 27, 2025 – South Walton delivered one of its most hard-fought performances of the season, pushing 6A opponent Niceville to the limit before falling 3-2 (25-22, 17-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-12) in a five-set thriller. The 4A Seahawks showed grit and balance against the higher-classification Eagles.
Junior outside hitter Maci Jones turned in a career performance, finishing with 34 kills on 79 swings to go with 16 digs and three assists. Her total set a new single-match record for South Walton and ranks among the top individual efforts in the state this season.
The Seahawks' attack was powered by junior setter Evelyn Brandman, who distributed 45 assists and added 12 digs in a commanding effort. Senior middle blocker Jordyn Swift contributed 11 kills and four blocks while hitting .500 for the match, while senior libero Kamryn Garcia anchored the defense with 22 digs and steady serve receive. Senior outside hitter Ella Driggers added 5 kills and 2 service aces, with junior opposite hitter Corinne O'Connell contributing 3 kills and 5 digs. Junior defensive specialist Lindsay McMahan added 7 digs to support the back-row effort in the hard-fought contest.
As a team, South Walton totaled 59 kills, 54 assists, 60 digs, 10 blocks, and nine aces. Despite the narrow loss, the Seahawks again demonstrated their ability to compete with larger-classification programs, a valuable test for the upcoming 4A schedule.
The loss moves South Walton to 1-3 on the young season after an opening slate that included 5A state champion Chiles and 5A state runner-up Beachside. The Seahawks will next face Fort Walton Beach in their first conference match on Tuesday, September 2nd.
About South Walton Volleyball: South Walton High School competes in FHSAA Class 4A District 1 under head coach Meaghan Allen. The program has established itself as a consistent playoff contender, reaching the Class 4A Elite 8 last season and winning five straight district championships since 2019.
Media Contact: South Walton Volleyball admin@southwaltonvolleyball.com Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
By Sammy Emerald, South Walton Volleyball's AI Sports Information Director (SAMI)
Stats are based on HUDL and the team's official stat book. MaxPreps is updated periodically.
