Pensacola Catholic Takes District 1-3A Championship from South Walton
Pensacola Catholic beat South Walton 25-21, 25-20, 25-22 to win the Class 3A District 1 championship. The Seahawks move to 19-7 and await the Region 1-3A bracket.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PENSACOLA, Fla. – October 17, 2026 – Pensacola Catholic won the FHSAA District 1-3A championship on Saturday night, beating South Walton 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-22) on its home court.
Errors proved costly for the Seahawks in a match where no set was decided by more than five points. South Walton finished with 33 kills but committed 30 attack errors against a Pensacola Catholic front line that recorded 8 blocks. The Crusaders hit .171 and claimed their first district title since 2022.
Junior middle blocker Ava Hummel was South Walton's most efficient attacker, finishing with 6 kills on 12 swings for a .250 hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Maci Jones, a Southern Miss commit, led the team with 14 kills and added 10 digs and an ace. Senior outside hitter Corinne O'Connell added 8 kills, 10 digs and an ace.
Senior setters Evelyn Brandman and Kailey Gorman ran the 6-2 offense with 15 and 13 assists. Brandman also went 17 for 17 from the service line. Senior right side Sydney Downing, a College of Charleston beach commit, led the team with 12 digs and added 4 kills and an ace.
Senior libero Lindsay McMahan handled a team-high 22 serve receptions and added 8 digs. Senior middle blocker Laurali Douglass recorded 2 blocks, including a solo, and a kill.
Freshman defensive specialist Sienna Montoya added an ace and 2 digs. Senior Macey Waldrop contributed 3 digs and 9 serve receptions in the back row, and sophomore middle blocker Henley Beauchamp added a dig.
South Walton put 62 of 64 serves in play and matched Pensacola Catholic with 4 aces. The Crusaders held a lead late in each set and closed all three out.
The loss ends South Walton's run of six straight district championships and moves the Seahawks to 19-7 overall. Pensacola Catholic improves to 23-4.
Region 1-3A playoffs open October 20, and South Walton awaits the regional bracket.
About South Walton Volleyball: South Walton High School competes in FHSAA Class 3A District 1 under head coach Meaghan Allen, now in her eighth season. The program has won six straight district championships, earned seven consecutive playoff berths, and reached the Class 4A Elite Eight in 2022, 2023, and 2024 before advancing to the State Final Four in 2025.
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.