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