BAKER — The Baker School volleyball team is hitting on all cylinders heading into next week’s District 1-1A tournament at Northview High School.
If Monday’s match against Freeport is any indication of how the Gators will play come tournament time it’s safe to say a 13th straight title is well within reach.
Baker made quick work of the Bulldogs in sweeping the match 3-0 by scores of 25-9, 25-12 and 25-15.
The Gators (13-8) trailed Freeport for exactly one point in the match. The lone Bulldog lead came at 1-0 in the third set. A kill by Baker’s Ayajah Coleman pulled the Gators even and sparked a 5-0 run in which Baker scored four points with Emily Stewart in serve.
“As we get closer to the district tournament we are looking to be more consistent and sharp in all aspects of our game,” Baker Coach Tommiko Parks said. “We came out strong tonight. It was senior night and the girls wanted to make a good showing.
“We were fairly consistent in our serve; we were consistent on the front row and fairly consistent on the back row. We are just trying to play well and peak as we get to the district tournament. We are heading in the right direction now.”
In the early part of the first set it looked as if the Bulldogs might not even score. Taylor Brunson opened the match in serve for Baker leading the Gators to a quick 11-0 lead before Freeport could score.
The Bulldogs never got any closer than nine points the remainder of the set.
Baker got off to another quick start in the second set and quickly pushed to a double digit lead at 14-4 as the Bulldogs never got any closer than 10 points the rest of the set.
The third set was a bit of a letdown for the Gators but even when not playing their best they were too strong for an outmanned Freeport squad. Freeport closed the Baker lead to 15-14 before an Ashley Black kill propelled Baker to a 10-1 run to close out the match.
Balance was the key for the Gators throughout the match as they continued to pressure Freeport.
Taylor Brunson and Coleman led Baker with six kills each. Emily Stewart had four kills, Brittany Brunson three kills and both Ashley Black and Lindsey Stewart with two kills each.
Taylor Brunson also had a match best seven aces and 10 assists.
BAKER 3, FREEPORT 0: 25-9, 25-12, 25-15.
BAKER STATS: Jessica Black 3 aces, 3 assists, 4 digs; Brittany Brunson 2 aces, 5 digs, 3 kills; Emily Stewart 3 aces, 4 digs, 4 kills; Taylor Brunson 7 aces, 10 assists, 1 block 2 digs, 6 kills; Whitley Taylor 3 digs, Lindsey Stewart 6 assists, 2 digs, 2 aces; Ayajah Coleman 1 block, 6 kills; Ashley Black 1 ace, 2 kills.
Baker volleyball stats
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker volleyball team peaking as tournament approaches (PHOTOS)