'To everybody, we're a team, but to each other, we're a family'

BAKER — In a team sport like volleyball, unity and chemistry is an important part of achieving success.

This rings true for the Baker School varsity volleyball team, who leads their district with an undefeated record working towards another successful season.

The back of their team t-shirt reads, "To everybody, we're a team, but to each other, we're a family."

Coach Kathy Combest said this is more than a saying — it's their motto.

The Gator's volleyball team has taken the district title for 15 consecutive years.

Combest said she hopes to make this year number 16.

Currently, the team has a record of 15-3 with two losses to Crestview High School but no losses in their district.

Combest's goals for her team this year is to see them advance all the way to the state championship.

"This season, we want to go all the way," Combest said.

Winning a state championship is a big goal to have, but Combest said she has ways to prepare her girls for the challenge — intense training and playing tougher teams like Crestview High School and Fort Walton Beach High School.

"The better competition we play, either you're going to rise up to it or you're not," Combest said.

The Baker volleyball team has never won a state championship, Combest said.

Combest, also the girl's basketball coach, has been with the Baker volleyball team for a total of 26 years, but her career as a volleyball coach began in 1986.

Prior to 1986, Combest said she had never played volleyball.

"What got me into it is when I came here to coach basketball, the volleyball coach retired," Combest said. "…They asked me to coach, and I said, 'Well, I'll coach, but if I suck, you're going to find somebody else.'"

Combest retired in 2008 for health reasons but returned to the game in 2011 at Crestview High School.

In 2016, she made her return to Baker.

Combest plans to retire after next year's season, and her daughter Chelsea Combest, the assistant coach, will likely take over as head coach.

The Gators have six regular season games left including the district tournament on Oct. 15 at Central High School.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'To everybody, we're a team, but to each other, we're a family'