Friday, November 6, 2026
The Rays’ bench erupts after a big play.
Senior Medney Garraux gets all of this block.
Junior Giuliana Batelli has been a solid addition to the 11-3 Rays.
Sophomore Cambree Grensing bumps the ball against Community School.
Medney Garraux follows through on a kill shot over the Community School defender.
Senior Madison Stolinas is on pace to become the area’s career leader in assists.
Senior Madison Stolinas leaps to make a play.
Junior libero Sophia Ogdin is focused.
Rylee Howard watches her block find an open spot in the Gulf Coast defense.
Madison Solinas and Rylee Howard combine for a block at Gulf Coast.
Medney Garraux blasts a spike past the Gulf Coast defender.
Medney Garraux and Rylee Howard team up to block a shot by Gulf Coast.
MIA head coach Alyssa Stolinas has her players’ attention.
Proud family. Medelson Garraux, Rose Garraux, KJ Garraux, Medney Garraux, Chamika Garraux, Khali Garraux, and Lory Garraux were all on hand to support Medney on Senior Night. Calligraphy by Medelson Garraux.
Senior Rylee Howard is in position to make a kill shot.
One more point! Principal Melissa Scott raises a single finger as the Rays are one point away from winning their match against Community School.
Terrific trio. MIA’s three seniors, Madison Stolinas, Rylee Howard, and Medney Garraux were emotional prior to battling Community School on Senior Night. The trio has led MIA for four seasons.
It was an emotional night for Marco Island Academy’s three seniors, Madison Stolinas, Medney Garraux, and Rylee Howard on Senior Night, Wednesday, September 24, in their home gym. Family, friends, coaches, and MIA staff were all on hand to honor the seniors who have led the volleyball program for the past four seasons. But Wednesday’s 25-22, 25-19, 25-14 straight sets win over a good Community School team was just part of a busy week for the 12-3 Rays.
On Tuesday, the Rays dropped a hard-fought three-setter at Gulf Coast, 24-26, 18-25, 21-25. Thursday, the Rays coasted to an easy three-set win over Mason Classical, 25-6, 25-5, 25-7.
MIA has had high hopes for this season ever since Stolinas, Garraux, and Howard were freshmen. And the team is in the midst of a rigorous regular season-ending schedule that features some of the area’s - and state’s - elite programs.
The Gulf Coast match was a measuring stick game for the Rays. Gulf Coast (16-4), along with the Rays, are considered two of the top three teams in the area this season, along with First Baptist Academy (16-1). The Rays went toe-to-toe with Gulf Coast before an engaged crowd in the Sharks’ gym. The teams were tied no less than 22 times over the three sets, but Gulf Coast proved to be the better closers in each set.
Against Community School, the Rays overcame some inconsistent serving to take an easier-than-the-scores-indicate win over the Seahawks. Mason Classical, like the rest of the Paradise Coast Athletic Conference, can’t match up with the Rays.
The Rays finish the season with two tough tests, at home against FBA on September 30 and on the road against Seacrest (5-13) on October 1. Seacrest has won four state titles in the past decade. FBA is widely considered the top team in Southwest Florida. The Rays open PCAC action at a location TBA on Saturday, October 4. On Monday, October 6, the Rays travel to Southeast Florida Christian (13-5), then it’s on to the playoffs.
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