The Buccaneers faced the Pirates on the high seas of volleyball to battle for a spot in the district championship. Mainland marooned Matanzas with a quick first set that began with a stuff and a kill, then ended with a 25-10 lopsided win. Mainland senior outside hitter Alexa Wilson led the team’s offense with a heavy arm giving the Buccaneers 16 kills on 42 attacks.

The Pirates sailed away with another victory against the Bulldogs this season as Matanzas hosted Flagler Palm Coast for their final home match before the FHSAA tournament play begins. The first set saw the Pirates’ senior Emma Wood serve up back-to-back aces to a Bulldog squad that dealt with her intense serving all night long. The junior duo of Revenna Reed and Sydney Moses led the Pirates’ offense in serving with Revenna tacking 6 aces on the board and Sydney adding 4 aces with a 95% serving percentage for the match! The Pirates raided the scoreboard racking up the kills in the second set.

The Wolves took to the road to face a pink Pirate squad in a game that came down to a battle of the serves for the win. Deltona opened the first set with strong serves and back-to-back kills from senior outside hitter Ja'Maya Diaz as they edged out Matanzas 25-23 to begin the match. Senior middle hitter Ashley Grove began the second set for the Pirates with tough serves and paired her serving with a strong arm to bring the match even 1-1 and begin the Matanzas comeback.

The Pirates sailed into the Panther’s Den to face off a tough Pine Ridge squad, but ultimately met stormy seas and fell to the Panthers in three sets. The first set saw skillful network by freshman middle hitters Megan Lee and BellaRae Brockhaus from Pine ridge as they dropped a flurry of tips on the Matanzas side. Second set opened with a pair of aces from Pine Ridge’s sophomore setter Lauren Powell who combined with Megan Lee for 10 aces on the evening.

Sheila Foley has attended all of her daughter Taylor's volleyball matches despite undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Sheila Foley underwent her fourth round of chemotherapy on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Emma Wood has been the No. 1 pitcher on Matanzas High school’s softball team since she was a freshman. Now she’s one of the top players on the volleyball team as well.

If Matanzas’ kickoff Classic victory was any indication, coach Matt Forrest’s air raid system might evolve into a ground attack this season. The Pirates scored five rushing touchdowns – all by sophomores – in a 42-22 victory over Jacksonville Wolfson on Friday, Aug. 20, at Pirates Stadium.

The Pirates lost 26 seniors after finishing 6-4 with a playoff victory in coach Matt Forrest's first season.