Beachside High School's girls volleyball team is off to a perfect start in 2026, rising to the top of Florida's Class 6A rankings and establishing itself as one of the teams to watch statewide.
Beachside Volleyball Is Undefeated
The Beachside Barracudas have opened the 2026 season with nine consecutive victories, including another convincing win Tuesday night against Mandarin.
Beachside swept Mandarin in straight sets, winning 25-17, 25-12 and 25-12 to improve to 9-0.
It was another dominant performance in a season that has quickly put the St. Johns County program on the statewide radar.
A Dominant Start
Beachside hasn't simply been winning — the Barracudas have been putting together a string of decisive performances.
The team's first nine victories include wins over programs such as Bolles, Nease, Providence School and Mandarin.
Tuesday's victory was Beachside's 13th consecutive home win dating back to last season.
Big Performances Against Mandarin
Beachside's Season Leaders
Beachside's undefeated start has been powered by contributions throughout the lineup.
Freshman Nina Simanic leads the team in kills per set, while sophomore Ariella Bostic leads in hitting percentage and total blocks.
Senior libero Isabella Taveras Seda leads the Barracudas in digs per set, and junior Ana Simanic has emerged as one of the team's leaders from the service line.
Why the Rankings Matter More This Year
Florida high school volleyball has an additional storyline in 2026: the FHSAA's new Open Division.
The state's highest-ranked programs will have an opportunity to compete against one another regardless of their traditional classification, creating a pathway for Florida's strongest teams to meet in the postseason.
That makes Beachside's overall statewide ranking especially significant. The Barracudas aren't simply competing for position within Class 6A — they are currently among the teams in the larger statewide conversation.
Big St. Johns County Matches Ahead
Beachside's schedule is about to provide another test, including matchups against two familiar St. Johns County programs.
Those matches should provide another indication of just how far this year's Beachside team can go.
A Young School Making a Statewide Name
Beachside High School only opened in 2022, making the volleyball program's rise especially notable.
In only a few years, the Barracudas have developed into a program capable of competing with established volleyball powers across Northeast Florida and, increasingly, across the state.
At 9-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class 6A, Beachside has already made the opening weeks of the 2026 season memorable.
The next question is how long the Barracudas can keep the undefeated streak going.
Home of the Barracudas