When the new 2016 volleyball districts came out, longtime St. Johns Country Day volleyball coach Traci Livingston had every right to be mad and even frustrated. Funny thing is, she wasn’t at all.
The Florida High School Athletic Association did St. Johns no favors by placing the Spartans in District 2-3A with St. Francis, Lake Mary Prep, Deltona Trinity, and Warner Christian.
The wild and crazy district stretches out from Orange Park to as far as Daytona and Orlando.
You would think Livingston might be a little bothered by the lengthy road trips to Gainesville, Daytona, or the Orlando area.
St. Johns could have easily stayed in 4A and play with nearby teams Bishop Snyder, Florida Deaf, Providence, St. Joseph, Trinity Christian, and University Christian.
“When they initially released the new districts, I think they put us in a district in 4A that made more geographical sense,” Livingston said. “I told them to put us where we need to be as our numbers were closer to 3A. We have been on the cusp of the 3A-2A for a while, so I think they just put us where we should be.”
Livingston doesn’t mind at all being in a district with new teams or long road trips.
“It’s not terrible at all,” Livingston said. “We were in a district with all Gainesville teams the last few years, so we’re not upset at all by this. And really, you only have to travel a few times because we only play each district opponent one time.”
Livingston has never run from a challenge and never will. Throughout the years, the Spartans have played much bigger programs than them, including some 7A and 8A programs.
“We always play bigger schools,” Livingston said. “We play Bolles twice, Episcopal, Oakleaf, and Orange Park.”
For years the Spartans dominated district play over Providence, University Christian, St. Joseph’s, and other small private schools.
Since 1990 the Spartans made the playoffs 18 of 21 years up until 2011. The Spartans missed the playoffs that year and the next, but made it back to postseason play in 2013. They haven’t returned since.
Having to face Oak Hall, PK Yonge, and Providence in district play over the years has brought the Spartans down to earth a bit as well.
“We never lost a district game for years, and I kept telling my team there will be a time it happens,” Livingston said. “Before we knew it, Oak Hall, St. Francis, and PK Yonge were dominating the district.”
With those programs out of the way now, Livingston and her squad turn their attention to a rejuvenated program, one with high expectations.
“This will be a good, fresh start for us,” Livingston said. “A new district, new teams, new excitement, and nobody knows about us except St. Francis.”
The District 2-3A tournament will take place Oct. 17-20 at Warner Christian in South Daytona and feature St. John’s Country Day, Lake Mary Prep, Deltona Trinity, St. Francis, and Warner Christian.
Livingston will look to bring the Spartans back into the state title mix, something the Spartans haven’t done since going back-to-back in 2001 and 2002, including a state runner-up finish in 2001.
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Running From No One
Written by Corey Davis
Photo by Corey Davis
