New SHS head coach Laura Kinsel talks to her team during a timeout. 

LIVE OAK — Area volleyball teams have had a good run of success in recent years. For Suwannee High, it’s been three straight winning seasons and a district championship in 2016. Traditional Class 1A power Lafayette has won seven straight district titles and advanced to a regional final the past two years.  

This season, though, both squads will be challenged after graduating a lot of key players in different positions.     

The Bulldogs, with new coach Laura Kinsel, began regular-season play on Tuesday with a home game against the Hornets and their new head coach Marcy Richardson. It was close early, but Lafayette pulled away in the middle of the third set. 

With the match tied at 1-1, the Hornets used a 13-0 run to take the set and went on for a 3-1 (25-21, 16-25, 25-15, 25-19) win.

Senior Kinady Crews served during that stretch and contributed with five aces.  

“It’s been a learning experience for all us to come together, but they’re proving they can do it,” Richardson said of her new-look team. “When it was time, they did what they needed to do.”

Santa Fe College commit Sarah Hamlin had 12 kills and four aces for Lafayette (2-0), which won its season opener on Monday against Chiefland. Harmony Richardson added eight kills.

Suwannee senior Sarah McWaters recorded six kills, two aces and a block. 

“Mayo is a tough opponent so I was proud of my girls and how they played,” said Kinsel. “Sarah (McWaters) is going to have a great season. Jordan (Esco), my other senior, is an excellent defensive player. Montayasia Jones, my outside hitter, is going to have a great season. 

“The girls understand the game. They know how to move, know how to transition. We’ve just got to get a little bit faster.”

2018 Suwannee/Lafayette Volleyball Schedule

SHS	Schedule			LHS	Schedule
Aug. 27	at Hamilton County	6:30 p.m.		Aug.27	Branford	6 p.m.
Aug. 30	Rickards	6:30 p.m.		Aug. 28	at Madison	6 p.m.
Aug. 31	Madison County	2:15 p.m.		Aug. 30	Hamilton	6 p.m.
Sept. 4	at Trenton	6:30 p.m.		Sept. 4	Jefferson	6 p.m.
Sept. 6	Wakulla	6:30 p.m.		Sept. 6	at Oak Hall	6 p.m.
Sept. 10	@ Northside Christian	6 p.m.		Sept. 10	Trenton	6 p.m.
Sept. 12	@ Godby	6:30 p.m.		Sept. 11	Bell	6 p.m.
Sept. 17	Hamilton County	5 p.m.		Sept. 13	Madison	6 p.m.
Sept. 18	at Rickards	6:30 p.m.		Sept. 14-15	at Bell Invitational	TBD
Sept. 21	at Madison County	1:30 p.m.		Sept. 18	at Trenton	6 p.m.
Sept. 24	at Newberry	6:30 p.m.		Sept. 20	at Hamilton	6 p.m.
Sept. 25	Baker County	6:30 p.m.		Sept. 24	at Jefferson	6 p.m.
Sept. 28-29	at Gator Town Classic	TBD		Sept. 25	Oak Hall	6 p.m.
Oct. 2	Godby	6:30 p.m.		Oct. 4	at Bell	6 p.m.
Oct. 4	at Wakulla	6:30 p.m.		Oct. 6	at Union Tourney	11 a.m.
Oct. 9	at Lafayette	2 p.m.		Oct. 8	at Branford	6 p.m.
Oct. 11	Trenton (Senior Night)	6:30 p.m.		Oct. 9	Suwannee	2 p.m.

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SHS boys golf loses close match to Columbia 

The Suwannee boys golf team opened the season Tuesday with a home match against Columbia.

The Tigers won by three strokes as SHS finished with a 169 and CHS had a 166. 

Scores for Suwannee

Drew Bozeman – 40

Tristen Touchton – 42

Carsin Chauncey – 43

James Fullbright – 44

Brent Long – 46

Bryson Gaylord – 47

Colby Tedder – 50

Levi Williams – 58

Bozeman was declared low medalist after winning a 1-hole playoff.

Suwannee Golf Schedule

Aug. 23	Madison County	Madison Country Club
Aug. 29	Gainesville	Suwannee Country Club
Aug. 30	Columbia	Lake City Country Club
Sept. 4	Oak Hall	Haile Plantation
Sept. 6	Taylor	Suwannee Country Club
Sept. 11	Branford	Suwannee Country Club
Sept. 13	Lafayette	Suwannee Country Club
Sept. 18	Eastside	Ironwood
Sept. 24	Madison County	Suwannee Country Club
Oct. 2	Taylor	Perry Country Club
Oct. 4	Eastside	Suwannee Country Club
Oct. 9	Cornerstone Academy	Suwannee Country Club
Oct. 16	District Tournament	Ironwood

All regular season matches begin at 4 p.m.