Gulf Breeze capped their 2021 volleyball season Tuesday with a three-set victory over the Navarre Raiders.
Story by Near Post Sports
Even so, both teams will enter the post season as the number one seed in their respective districts.
The Dolphins (21-4) enter the 1-6A tournament on a three-game winning streak, and they’re ranked #5 overall in Florida’s 6A classification. In the latest rankings, Navarre’s at #17 – nested between Booker T. Washington (16) and district opponent Milton (18).
Playing in Navarre’s gym, Gulf Breeze had a distinct advantage on the front line during the 25-10, 25-22, 25-19 match.
“As a team, it was a very good hitting night. We were really able to use our defense and convert it into offensive plays. Everybody was really firing,” said Lauren Kellen, the Dolphins’ leading hitter with 227 kills entering the Raider game. “They’re a school rival, and they always bring something impressive to the table. So, we like to show off what we can do and use all our assets when we play them.”
For a regular-season finale, their coach wasn’t keen on the performance.
“It was a win, but we didn’t play our best,” Dolphin head coach Jasmine King said, citing low energy due to homecoming week activities.
The Hwy 98 rivalry seemed one-sided Tuesday, in the first set. But Navarre made a game of it in the second set and again in the third. The Raiders were down four points early, but momentum swung around and eight points later, and Navarre was up 13-11. And things looked promising for the home team when they edged to a 21-20 advantage before the powerful front line fueled a 5-1 surge to close out the second set. Things were close until Gulf Breeze opened up a four-point pad, 15-11, only allowing the Raiders to come within two points 17-15 before returning to a four-point advantage and nailing down the match.
“It’s never a good feeling. They had better swings … they were putting them in places that we could get there,” said Navarre outside hitter Grace McAlister. “The last two games, we pushed. After one of their really good swings … we would huddle and take a deep breath and next play.”
Raider head coach Ryan Davenport gave a nod to Gulf Breeze’s power, but he was also encouraged by a viable game plan.
“The only thing that really could’ve interrupted our game plan was we didn’t pass well,” Raider head coach Ryan Davenport said. “Every time we stuck to the plan, it was working.”
In their final regular-season match 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Navarre (17-7) hosts the South Walton Seahawks (17-6). Although they haven’t met this season, they do have five mutual opponents – Bay, Choctaw, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, and Gulf Breeze. The Seahawks went 7-3 in matches against that lineup (yet winless against Gulf Breeze). Navarre was 6-3, only facing Crestview once.
In real comparative terms, South Walton lost to FWB once and beat Choctaw twice. Navarre split with Choctaw but won both matches with FWB.
All photos © 2021 by Stu Camp can be purchased in high resolution at https://stuartcamp.smugmug.com/
Kyra McKelvey watches her spike head out of bounds in the late stage of the match.
Dolphin hitter Camryn Brooks passes from the back row.
