BAKER — It was the age old battle of David versus Goliath on Monday when Class 1A Baker School hosted Class 5A Choctawhatchee in volleyball action.
The valiant Gators gave it their best shot pushing the match to five sets, but in the end the Indians had too much size and fire power. Choctaw won the match 3-2 by scores of 14-25, 25-19, 25-15, 23-25, 15-8.
Baker-Choctawhatchee volleyball photos>>>
“I’m proud of the way we came out and battled,” Baker Coach Tomikko Parks said. “There were some times we let our fundamentals go and kind of got ourselves in trouble. I was proud of the way we battled for each and every point toward the end of the game.
“Choctaw is a talented team. They do a lot of things. They are big at the net and they do a good job blocking.”
The upset minded Gators (7-1) came out strong in the first set. Emily Stewart led the earl Baker charge as the Gators moved in front 5-1 and never looked back in taking the set.
But a long and lean Indian squad flexed its muscle in the second and third sets.
Evelina Teran was a force for Choctaw at the net as the Indians surged into the lead.
Choctaw never trailed in the second or third sets and it looked as if the Indians would pull away from the Gators.
The Indians led 7-3 in the fourth set when Baker’s Ashley Black came up with a block that seemed to reignite the Gators.
Black’s block helped jump start a 6-2 Gator run as Baker pulled even with Choctaw at 9-9. Appropriately a Black kill was on the back end of the run. Brittany Brunson had a big kill in the run as well.
The set continued to go back and forth as the Indians tried to close out the match and the Gators fought to stay alive.
A Kelsee McGraw kill gave Baker a 23-22 lead, but Kassandra Fairly put home a kill for Choctaw to tie the set.
Baker was able to close out the set with a Stewart kill.
Choctaw took a quick 7-1 lead in the fifth set and pulled way with the win.
Stewart led Baker with 10 kills. She also topped the Gators with three aces and chipped in six digs.
McGraw had eight kills and two blocks. Hartley Moate had five kills. Taylor Brunson dished out 28 assists and had eight digs.
EmailNews Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gators fall to Choctaw (PHOTOS, VIDEO)