BAKER — The Baker volleyball team isn’t worried about what could have been last season.

Instead, the Gators are “locked in” on what they need to do this year to have a shot at state.

“We have to put that goal out there first because that’s what we want to do,” said coach Kathy Combest. “Don’t think about you, you, you, but let’s think about us and help each other and that makes us a stronger team.”

The team found a bond during a camp at Florida State University and has grown closer ever since.

With their goal in mind and a strengthened bond and focus, the Gators can now turn their attention to finding their rhythm on the court.

“This game is all about what you do from that pass to the set to the hit,” Combest said. “We’re going to be fine on the offensive end, but we’ve gotta make that defense work. We have to sacrifice and put our bodies on the floor and get that ball up no matter what.”

The team lost six seniors last year, but Combest isn’t worried about finding the right players to step up. From top to bottom the Gators lineup is stacked with plenty of talent.

Senior setter Deomi Valmus is a hard-nosed competitor who will be crucial in the team’s ability to get the ball over the net. Seniors Chelsi Brooks and Afton Adams bring height to the team that will be helpful to the team’s blocking. Junior libero Eryn Watson’s ability to pass the ball will be a big factor for the team to score points.

The Gators also have some young players that could be beneficial to the season. Sophomore setter Stella Hurley is eager to learn and works hard, according to Combest. Combest also said she looks for Kaylin Ellis, the only freshman on the varsity team, to do big things.

“We have to run the system that we already have implemented,” Combest said. “If we can get that good pass, we have people who can get the ball over.”

The team will look to find some momentum to begin the season during a preseason classic at Crestview High School on Aug. 17.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gators volleyball locks into goal for new season

BAKER — Ashley Black and Brittany Brunson will graduate from Baker School in three months having been a part of four of the Gators’ 13 consecutive district championship volleyball teams.

They hope to carry on those winning ways with them next fall when the continue their college careers at Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton, Ala.

The Gator duo and best friends signed with the Warhawks in  March 2 ceremony in the Baker School media center.

Black is looking forward to beginning the next chapter of her education and volleyball career with Brunson.

“It’s really exciting,” she said. “I went and toured the dorm, the campus and everything a couple of weeks ago. I’m just so excited to see my new home.

“I think we are going to be roommates. I’m so happy to have someone from Baker with me. She’s my best friend.”

Brunson added having a close friend will help ease the transition into college life.

“It really takes a lot of the pressure off of not knowing anybody when you get there. I’ve got somebody there that I can kind of stick to until I meet other people.”

Both players expect to continue to play the same positions they have in high school, but Brunson, who played outside hitter in high school and is the more versatile athlete doesn’t care where she plays as long as she on the court.

“At the tryouts they were using me at outside hitter, which is my main position in high school,” Brunson said. “I’m hoping they will keep me at that, but I’ll play any position they want me to play.

“I really jump kind of high so that makes up for not being that tall.”

Black understands her size makes her better suited for the front line.

“I think the strengths of my game are hitting and blocking,” she said. “I definitely need to work on my footwork and speed.

“By design, I’m probably not going to be passing. That’s’ not my strength.”

Brunson is proud of what she and Black have been able to accomplish at Baker.

“It definitely makes you feel good because you were a part of a team that worked together good and played together good,” she said. “To accomplish multiple levels that we made it through and going to state, being part of the 13 district titles, it gives you confidence to go on to the next level.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker School volleyball teammates sign with Jeff Davis

BAKER — Two-time defending Class 1A volleyball champion Sneads was in the house at the Baker School gymnasium Saturday as the Gators hosted the Pirates in the Region 1-1A finals.

As is the case more often than not, the better team won. The better team Saturday was the Pirates who flexed their muscle sweeping the Gators 25-20, 25-18, 25-18.

“We prepared from the first day of practice – we knew that we would be here at this point and time,” Baker coach Tommiko Parks said. “We knew what we had to do. Unfortunately, we didn’t execute as well as we thought we should have.

“But Sneads is an excellent team. The things they do, they do well and that means you have to be that much more on top of your game.”

Sneads (24-6) made a state to start the first set with a 6-0 run with Ashlyn Roberts in serve.

Roberts’ serve can best be described as a cross between a slider and a knuckle curve in baseball. It comes in low and hard and takes a nasty break at the end.

The quick Pirate start was a sign of things to come. Baker’s first point came on a net violation for Sneads.

At one point it was 10-1 in the first set, but the Gators (16-11) wouldn’t go away. Emily Stewart and Ayajah Coleman led a Gator comeback that saw Baker cut the Sneads’ lead to 24-20 before a kill by Madison Pickens finished off the set.

The Gators never threatened Sneads in the second set as the Pirates opened up a 9-1 lead and cruised on to the win to go up 2-0 in the match.

Baker did its best to hold onto the home court in the third set. A net violation by Sneads and an Ashley Black kill for Baker put the Gators up 2-0. But the Pirates came back taking a 3-2 lead and never trailed again.

Baker was able to tie the set at 3-3, 10-10, 11-11, 13-13 and 14-14, before Pirates pulled away to take the match.

Emily Stewart led Baker with six kills. Lindsey Stewart had eight assists and two digs.

Taylor Brunson, Coleman, Black and Railey Conner each had two kills.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Sneads ends Baker's volleyball season (PHOTOS)

BAKER — Focused was the word of the day for the Baker School volleyball team as it took the home court against Bethlehem on Tuesday in the Region 1-1A semifinal.

And focused is just what the Gators were.

Any hopes the visiting Wildcats had of upsetting Baker were quickly laid to rest. The Gators were ready to play, and play they did. Baker won the first set 25-4.

After that it wasn’t if the Gators would win, but how quickly they would do so. Baker walked off the floor victorious less than an hour after the 7 p.m. match started. The Gators finished off the sweep taking the second set 25-9 and the third set 25-12.

Baker (16-10) will host Sneads at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Region 1-1A final. The winner will advance to the state semifinal scheduled for Nov. 7.

“We the word we used tonight was we were ‘focused,’” Gator Coach Tommiko Parks. “We came in here focused. We were ready to play.

“We had a good spirit and that was a good thing. That’s what we’ve been waiting for all season.”

If you want focused try 44 Gator kills on for size.

Brittany Brunson led the pack with 11 kills. Ayajah Coleman had kills eight kills, Ashley Black and Taylor Brunson seven kills each. Railey Conner had six kills and Emily Stewart had five kills.

Someone had to dish out assists for those kills. Taylor Brunson had 30 assists. And Lindsey Stewart had 11 assists.

Baker had plenty of defense to go with the offense. The Gators had 41 digs. Jessica Black had eight digs. Taylor Brunson had six digs as did Whitley Taylor.

Baker led 5-3 in the first set before closing it out with a 20-1 run. Ashley Black, Brittany Brunson and Conner did most of the damage during the Gator assault.

Baker never trailed in the second set. The first two sets were played in about 30 minutes.

The third set took a little longer, but there was never any doubt as, with Taylor Brunson in serve to start the set, Baker took a 9-0 lead and pulled away with the win.

“We been pretty focused the last couple of days because we understand we’ve got to win,” Parks said. “We keep saying it’s a win or go home situation so we have to come to the gym focused every time we come in here.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker focused in region semifinal volleyball win (PHOTOS)

CRESTVIEW — Tim Hatten won’t be scoreboard watching on Friday, when Crestview High School's football team travels to Niceville for the year's last District 3-6A game.

Choctawhatchee and Fort Walton Beach will also play a District 3-6A game that could affect Crestview’s playoff chances. But Hatten, Crestview’s veteran coach, knows if the Bulldogs (4-4, 1-1) do their part and beat the Eagles (7-1, 2-0) everything will fall into place.

A big part of the Bulldogs doing their part centers on quarterback Rusty Moorer, who makes his third start since breaking his throwing hand in the season opener against Northview. The last time out against Fort Walton Beach on Oct. 16, Moorer threw for more than 270 yards and three touchdowns.

“We have a lot of good things going for us,” Hatten said. “(Moorer) is capable, with the weapons we have, of throwing for 300 yards most any night, if things go right.

“We are a much different team with (Moorer) in there. We can move Corey (Armstrong) to fullback, and that gives us a hammer that will get us two yards, three yards, four yards. We still haven’t seen his potential at the running back position.”

When you add receivers Marquis McClain, Andrew Adkins and Capri Jones to the mix, along with tight end Matt French, the Bulldogs should present Niceville's defense with enough challenges.

“We are excited about where we are right now,” Hatten said. “We wish we had a few more wins, but we had to play the hand we were dealt.

“There’s nothing that says Fort Walton isn’t capable of upsetting Choctaw. A lot of things can happen in the playoff pictures that will shake it up quite a bit.”

Hatten said the district's only team guaranteed anything is Niceville: its worst case scenario would have them in a shootout with Crestview and Choctaw.

“If you are in the situation that Niceville and Choctaw are in, you are probably hoping the other team (the Indians or Eagles) wins,” Hatten said. “Any other scenario and you are not guaranteed anything for the playoffs.”

Assessing Crestview's and Niceville's offenses, Hatten said Moorer probably throws the ball a little better than Niceville, and Niceville probably runs it a little better.

Hatten doesn’t put much stock in Niceville’s recent success.  “If you look at the two or three games (when) we’ve played them, they are no different than anybody that we’ve played,” he said. “We just have to worry about the Crestview Bulldogs.

“We have not had more success or less success against them than anybody else. We’ve lost to worse teams than them, and we’ve lost to better teams than them. We are not going to have a different game plan just because they are Niceville.”

WHAT: High school football — Crestview at Niceville

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Niceville High School, Eagle Stadium

UPCOMING

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview prepares for district showdown at Niceville

BRATT — In what has become a passage of fall Baker School’s volleyball team continued in a Gator tradition Thursday. The Gators won a district championship.

For the, record the championship makes it a Baker’s dozen – that’s 13 straight. This year’s victim was Jay. This year’s tournament was played at Northview.

The Gators won in straight sets by scores of 25-16, 25-8, 25-17.

The match was close for about 10 minutes, or as long as it took Baker to get warmed up. The Gators experienced no let downs or lack of focus as they did in the third set of Tuesday’s semifinal match with Laurel Hill.

“Tonight, with it being the championship, we wanted to stay on it (the attack),” senior Brittany Brunson said. “We just wanted to get on their throats and stomp it and try to play the best we can.”

The first set was tied 9-9 when the Gators (15-10) found that extra gear. A Royal serving error started the Baker rally, but Ashley Black’s hand print was all over it for the Gators.

Black had four of her team-best nine kills down the stretch of the first set as the Gators took control of the set and match.

“Tonight just clicked for me,” Black said. “Everything seemed to be going right.”

Baker poured it on in the second set cruising to a 17-point win to go up 2-0 in the match.

Taylor Brunson, Ayajah Coleman and Emily Stewart continued the torrid attack for the Gators.

“We played hard and put the pedal to the metal from the very beginning,” Taylor Brunson said. “We fought through the whole time and didn’t let up on them. I think we played a good game.”

Jay tried to keep it close in the third set, but the Gators didn’t lose their focus as the kept their sights set on another run in the playoffs and what they hope will be the first state championship that has eluded the school for so long.

Several Baker players had a big match.

Taylor Brunson had three aces to go along with 20 assists and six kills. Brittany Brunson had four kills and six digs.

Emily Stewart had six kills. Her younger sister, Lindsey, had eight assists. Coleman was a force at the net with four blocks and seven kills.

Coach Tommiko Parks was able to check the district title of her list and was ready to focus on the next step toward a title.

“It’s now win or go home,” she said.” The first goal is always the district championship. We’ve done that and we have to win to keep playing.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gator volleyball team makes it a Baker's dozen (PHOTOS)

FORT WALTON BEACH — Choctawhatchee’s volleyball team was thinking of a District 2-6A championship match with rival Fort Walton Beach.

Crestview stalled that reality, scoring four consecutive points to fend off a three-set sweep Tuesday in the district semifinals.

That was merely a delay, though. Choctaw made sure the fourth set was the last one.

The Indians scored the first six points in the set and won 25-14 to clinch a spot in the Class 6A postseason and a meeting Thursday with Fort Walton Beach for the league championship. The Indians and Vikings have played four times this season, and Thursday’s meeting at Fort Walton Beach will break the 2-2 series tie.

“To be honest, we just executed better (in the fourth set)," said Choctaw coach Scott Allen, whose team won 25-15, 25-14, 24-26, 25-14. "We might have been a little sleepy in the third set and a little frustrated with each other.

"We've lost sets before. That's what I told the girls. It's not a big deal.”

The Indians (22-2) scored eight of the match’s first nine points and 10 of the first 12. With Evelina Teran and sophomore Kassandra Fairly combining for 19 kills – and Alyssa Sehman nabbing 32 assists – the Indians owned the first set 25-15. The second set, while more competitive at the start, ended 25-14 after the Indians won 13 of the final 17 points.

Lindsey Legg had 13 digs while Nakia McKinnie added 16 assists and Melia Lindner had 10 kills. Fairly and Teran combined for 19 kills.

Crestview (17-9) had a solid season yet didn’t win any of the five matches against its district foes, Choctaw and Fort Walton Beach. It was Cailey Ness’ block that tied the third set at 24, and then Marisa Rogers’ assist to Torri Robinson to give Crestview a lead on the next point.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview's volleyball season comes to an end

BRAT — North Okaloosa County rivals Baker and Laurel Hill met in North Escambia County on Tuesday in the semifinal round of the District 1-1A volleyball tournament.

The Gators were shooting for their 23rd consecutive playoff appearance and a 13th straight district title. The Hoboes were trying to play spoiler for the perennial power.

An upset was not in order, but Laurel Hill did make things interesting in the third set. When the dust had settled Baker’s crown might have been tilted a little, but it was still in place.

The Gators advanced to Thursday night’s final against Jay with a four-set win by scores of 25-11, 25-8, 20-25, 25-8.

“We came out in game one and game two and played really well,” Baker Coach Tommiko Parks said. “I was proud of the way the girls came out and played. Game three we had kind of a letdown and a little hiccup in our game.

“We kind of coasted a little bit, but we don’t want to coast. We want to keep our foot on the gas. We played pretty well to begin with, but we kind of had a little focus issue.”

Baker (14-10) was at its championship best in the first two sets. The only time the Gators trailed in either set was at the opening point of the match when the Hoboes (10-12) got a quick score.

Strong play by Brittany Brunson, Taylor Brunson and Emily Stewart helped Baker get off to a quick 10-5 lead in the first set. The Hoboes managed to cut the Gator lead to 14-11 before Baker closed out the set with an 11-0 run.

Jessica Black was in serve as Baker scored the last 10 points of the set.

It was more of the same in the second set as Baker jumped to an 11-1 lead and was never really threatened. Ayajah Coleman and Railey Conner helped the normal Gator offensive powers in pushing to the win.

Leading 13-5 in the third set, Baker seemed to be in control and ready to wrap up the match. But a couple of Hoboes had other ideas.

Kylee Seymour and Kaylee L’Homme played as if they weren’t ready for the season to end as Laurel Hill played what might have been its best set of the season.

The Hoboes not only made things interesting, they came all the way back outscoring Baker 20-7 down the stretch.

One set was all the Gators were going to give up. Baker went on the offensive in the fourth set and took control of things early in pulling away with the win.

Taylor Brunson filled the stat sheet of the Gators recording four aces, 23 assists, nine digs and seven kills. Stewart led the Gator attack with nine kills. Brittany Brunson had eight kills.

Ashley Black had six kills. Jessica Black had six aces and 9 digs. And Ayajah Coleman had three blocks and three kills.

L’Homme had a game-high 10 kills for Laurel Hill. Seymour added seven kills. Rachel Welsh had 11 digs.

Bailey Stokes had three aces, eight assists, three digs and 1 kill for Laurel Hill.

“I really felt like Baker played the best game I saw them play all year,” Laurel Hill Coach Kent Zessin said. “They hit the ball extremely well tonight. We did horrible job on with their serving on our serve receive early and that really killed us.  

“You have to tip your hats to our girls. They never quit. They never gave up. We won a game there and got motivated and believed they could do it.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker advances to District 1-1A volleyball final (PHOTOS)

LAUREL HILL — North Okaloosa County will be represented in Thursday’s District 1-1A volleyball  tournament final at Northview High School.

Laurel Hill School’s volleyball team made sure of that Monday beating Northview in the tournament play in match in straight sets. The Hoboes beat the Chiefs 25-17, 25-14 and 25-15.

The win earned Laurel Hill a date with Baker at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Northview. The Gators are the district’s top seed and are going for their 13th consecutive district title.

Laurel Hill (9-11) struggled at times against the Chiefs (0-14) on Monday after having beaten Northview twice during the regular season.

“We really need to get as deep as we can into the playoffs just for the experience factor for this  young team,” Hobo Coach Kent Zessin said. “I don’t care who  you are, it’s hard to beat any team three times. I was really scared that we might be overlooking.

“We weren’t overlooking them, but we didn’t play our top match tonight, which expected if you play a team like we did and beat them. You have to go out there every night and earn it. The girls played hard and did what we had to do to keep us alive.”

The Hoboes did what they had to do against the outmanned Chiefs.

Laurel Hill jumped to a quick 5-1 lead in the first set, but never was able to put Northview away.

Whenever the Chiefs rallied a kill by Kaylee L’Homme or Kylee Seymour or a big serve from Rachel Welsh or Bailey Stokes swung the momentum back in Laure Hill’s favor.

Northview took an early 4-0 lead in the second set, but was unable to hold off the Hoboes. The early deficit didn’t seem to bother the Hoboes as they climbed their way back into contention in the set. At times the Chiefs were their own worst enemies giving Laurel Hill five and six consecutive points on unforced errors.

Northview never really challenged the Hoboes in the final set thanks to the play of L’Homme.

L’Homme was a beast at the net scoring five of Laurel Hill’s first 10 points in the set. L’Homme finished things off with an ace to end the match and send the Chiefs home where they will watch the rest of the tournament.

L’Homme led Laurel Hill with 11 kills. She also had three aces. Welsh had four aces and eight digs.

Stokes had four aces and six assists. Kaylyn McLaney led the Hoboes with seven assists.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill advances in district volleyball tournament (PHOTOS)

CRESTVIEW — Baker, Crestview and Laurel Hill volleyball teams are setting their sights on grabbing a crown and advancing to state playoffs.

Baker and Laurel Hill will play in the District 1-1A tournament, along with Central, Jay and Northview. Crestview is in the District 2-6A tournament with Choctaw and Fort Walton Beach.

The Gators are eyeing their 13th consecutive district title and a 23rd straight trip to the playoffs. The Hoboes hope to make a third-straight trip to the playoffs. And the Bulldogs want to return to the playoffs after missing them a year ago. 

 Baker was perfect in regular-season district play, and didn’t drop a set in eight district matches. But Gator Coach Tommiko Parks said the team can’t overlook any opponent in the tournament. “We have to go in and play our type of volleyball," she said. "We have to play very consistently.

“We have to play strong in serve-receive and make sure our game is peaking at the right time. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies. We have to concentrate on how we play volleyball and do the things well that we need to do.”

Laurel Hill kicks off tournament play against Northview at 5 p.m. Monday at Laurel Hill. The Hoboes won the right to host the match by beating the Chiefs twice during the regular season, earning the four seed in the tournament.

The tournament's semifinals and finals will be played Tuesday and Thursday at Northview.

Baker faces the Laurel Hill-Northview match's winner at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Laurel Hill Coach Kent Zessin knows the Hoboes will have a challenge in the tournament. “Even though we lost to Baker 3-0 here last week, I felt like we played well against them,” he said. “They are not the No. 1 seed for nothing. They are real solid and have a lot of weapons.

“But I like the way we held our own here at the house. I like our chances here at home against Northview to get back over to Northview (in the tournament semifinals and get another shot at Baker.”

Crestview enters the District 2-6A tournament as the No. 3 seed in the three-team district. The Bulldogs travel to Choctaw for the tournament's opening round at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The match's winner will play for the district title at 6 p.m. Thursday at top seed Fort Walton Beach.

Crestview was 0-4 in the district play, and Bulldog Coach Kathy Combest said, “We can go in(to the tournament) with no worries and just play ball. The pressure's on them,” she said. “What we have to do is we have to be consistent, try to not have turnovers where we make points for them, and not miss serves.

“If we play with the three things I said, and go hard the whole time, we will be hard to beat.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: District volleyball championships up for grabs