Chiles Falls to Gulf Breeze in First Beach Volleyball Match

On Feb. 24, Chiles played their first beach volleyball match of the season against a familiar rival in Tallahassee. The last time Chiles and Gulf Breeze met was in the regional final where the Dolphins edged out Chiles with a score of 2-3 to end the Timberwolves’ 2024-2025 post season run.

After that loss for the Timberwolves, Gulf Breeze ended up winning the 2A FHSAA State Championship. Although the teams have changed a lot from last year, with both schools graduating top college talent, the rivalry remains.

Chiles could not avenge the lost last year as Gulf Breeze won in a close contest, 3-2.

Chiles competed in five matches, finishing the day with two victories and several hard-fought contests. Chiles’ Meg Hearn and Natalie Gibson earned a strong straight-set win at the top position, 21-11, 21-14, while Lindsay Smith and Sterling Carlile also secured a two-set victory at the 3’s position with a score of 21-13, 21-17. Loganne Abernathy and Riley Warmath pushed their opponents to three sets, winning the second set before narrowly falling 21-10, 15-21, 12-15 at the 2’s position. Riley Boykin and Jorja Williams battled throughout their match at the 4’s position but came up short 12-21, 15-21. Jensen Glenn and Callie Rowse played a tight opening set before ultimately falling 19-21, 8-21 to the Dolphins 5’s pair.