Pace and Milton are playing preseason Kickoff Classic games tonight.
The Patriots host West Florida Tech while the Panthers head to Okaloosa County to take on Choctaw.
Optimism and potential are hard to ignore within the Milton volleyball program as the Panthers believe a turnaround season is ahead.
After winning only five matches a year ago, the Panthers are ready to charge into a new year.
Pace, Milton and Central all got a jump start on the 2025 volleyball season, playing preseason games this week.
The Patriots are playing in a tournament at Pensacola Catholic while Milton and Central both are playing preseason tournament matches at Milton.
Jay’s volleyball team will no doubt be well-conditioned going into the new season.
With the main gym having work done, the Royals have had to practice in the old gym, which isn’t much cooler than the hot and humid outside air. The fans blowing provide little relief.
One of Pace head volleyball coach Cody Trimm’s biggest concerns is figuring out how he is going to make room on the gym wall for the senior banners.
There are 10 seniors on the roster, which is a good thing, as the Patriots aim at building on the success of a 19-8 campaign last season, the best year for the program since 2018.
Going through a losing season is never easy. Frustration builds. The ball rarely bounces your way.
But that’s all history for the Milton Panthers, who were 0-10 last season but have no intentions of being the same kind of team in 2025.
There are always differences between year one and year two within a program.
Central head coach Joe Surratt points one of the more obvious ones as he stands near the Jaguars’ field before the start of practice on a hot and humid August afternoon.
Harley Messer had a tough time on the recruiting trail, but ultimately, the process and patience paid off as the 2025 Milton grad has committed to play baseball at Spring Hill College.
