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Congratulations to the Bishop Kenny girls Beach Volleyball Team for a successful season. Head Coach Suzanne Winkler finished the regular season undefeated and took a very young team to the Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC) State Beach Volleyball Championship April 30 – May 1. The State Championship was held at Hickory Point Beach in Tavares, Florida. The Crusaders lost a very tight match in the finals against Riverview High School, Sarasota, FL, finishing the season with a 21-1 record.
Winkler has been the head volleyball coach at BK for 18 years and this was her second-year coaching beach volleyball. Winkler won her second indoor state 4A title in 2020-2021 and has set high expectations for her beach team. Placing second in the state of Florida was a huge honor for the Crusaders facing very tough competition from South Florida teams. Winkler has her sights set on a state title for 2021-2022 as the sport moves to a sanctioned Florida High School Athletic Association official sport (FHSAA).
The team practiced five days a week on the David D. Williams Beach Volleyball courts at Bishop Kenny. Dave Williams was a fixture on the BK campus for 32 years beginning his career in 1984 as a teacher and retiring as an administrator in 2015. Williams passed away on June 30, 2020 after a three-year battle with ALS. Nadine Williams ‘15, Coach Williams’ daughter is an assistant coach under Winkler. The St. Johns River provides both a beautiful backdrop and breeze to the courts
Pictured: (L-R) Row 1 Olivia Shad, Bailey Chin, Bella Miller, Alexis Chin, Hana Hurdle, Emma Milton, Row 2 Claudia Stockard, Coach Nadine Williams, Coach Suzanne Winkler, Sarah Seabrooke, Leah Klingaman, Rachel Skyles, Ashton Dilts, Lillian Pragle, Hailey Gomer, Tina Nika, Laura Roskin, Coach Sam Polling, Back row, Coach John Dougherty, Coach Steve Harrison.