Sorry, no coincidences here.
All of Brevard County's high school volleyball teams that advanced the farthest in the 2007 postseason have one of the area's top players back. It is no surprise, therefore, that the quartet of teams has high expectations entering this season, which officially begins tonight around the Sunshine State.
Four of the seven members of FLORIDA TODAY's All-Space Coast first team are back this season. They are Merritt Island senior libero Paula Passmore, Melbourne Central Catholic senior setter Rachel Priester, Merritt Island Christian junior setter Stephanie Quinn and Holy Trinity junior hitter Julia Swalchick.
They played on four of the seven Brevard teams that advanced to regional play last season. Merritt Island, MCC and Merritt Island Christian all won district tournaments and eventually advanced to at least regional semifinals before being eliminated in their respective classifications. MIC, which finished 27-3, eventually won a regional title and reached the state tournament's semifinals in Class 1A.
The other teams who advanced to regional play were Satellite (5A), Titusville (4A) and Temple Christian (1A). Merritt Island proved to be the strongest of the public schools, compiling a 24-5 record, and finishing unbeaten in Cape Coast Conference play for the third season in a row.
One first-week match of note occurs Thursday night, when Merritt Island Christian travels to Melbourne Central Catholic.