South Walton Sweeps North Bay Haven Behind O'Connell's 17-Kill Night

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. - September 3, 2026 - South Walton returned to the Hawks Nest for the first time since the season opener and delivered a 3-0 sweep of North Bay Haven (25-20, 27-25, 25-20) on Thursday night, withstanding the Buccaneers' hardest push in a 27-25 second set. The win moves the Seahawks to 5-2 in their first meeting with a fellow Class 3A opponent this season.

Senior Corinne O'Connell turned in her biggest night of the season, hammering a season-high 17 kills on .333 hitting from the right side while adding 7 digs and 3 aces in a complete performance at both ends of the floor.

The setter committee ran the offense for the second straight match. Junior setter Bianca Savi distributed 16 assists and served 2 aces at a 95.7 percent clip across a team-high 23 attempts, while Kailey Gorman added 10 assists and 3 kills on .500 hitting in her first home match with the program. The pair accounted for 26 of South Walton's 34 assists.

Senior outside hitter Sydney Downing added 7 kills on .208 hitting with 6 digs, and senior middle blocker Laurali Douglass stayed efficient at the net with 8 kills on .412 hitting and 2 blocks. Junior middle blocker Ava Hummel contributed 4 kills and 2 blocks, and sophomore middle blocker Henley Beauchamp added 2 blocks of her own.

In the back row, senior libero Lindsay McMahan anchored serve receive with a team-high 23 receptions and 8 digs, while senior Macey Waldrop added 7 digs and an ace.

As a team, South Walton finished with 40 kills on .240 hitting, 34 assists, 39 digs, 9 aces, and 8 blocks in the straight-sets win, the Seahawks' most efficient offensive night since the season opener.

Up next, South Walton hosts 4A Choctawhatchee at the Hawks Nest on Tuesday.

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.