BAKER — North Okaloosa County rivals Baker School and Laurel Hill School squared off in a District 1-1A volleyball match Tuesday with the winner hoping to make a statement that will be felt in next month’s district tournament.
A scrappy young group of Hoboes hoped to show they had what it takes to unseat the 12-time defending champion Gators.
Laurel Hill made a good showing against a veteran Baker squad hanging in tough in all three sets before the Gators flexed their muscle winning 25-18, 25-21, 25-12.
Although the Hoboes (3-4, 0-2) were able to keep things close they played from behind most of the match. Laurel Hill’s only lead of the match came on the first point of the first set. The Hoboes tied the first set 7-7 before the Gators took the lead once and for all on an Ayajah Coleman kill.
Coleman’s kill sparked an 11-2 Gator run that secured the first set. Seven of the 11 points came with libero Lena Daoud in serve.
“Baker did an outstanding job as always,” Hobo Coach Kent Zessin said. “They are a great team and well coached.
“I felt like it was my fault not having us prepared for that type of match. We didn’t do a very good job serve and receive or setting tonight. We dug a hole for ourselves all three sets and you can’t give a good team a head start and expect to win.”
The Gators jumped to a quick 7-2 lead in the second seet and never trailed. That doesn’t mean the Hoboes made things easy on Baker.
Laurel Hill battled back in set behind the play of Kaylee L’Homme, Bailey Stokes and Kaylyn McLaney. The Hoboes pulled to within two points of the Gators on a Kylee Seymour kill.
A score by Baker’s Jessica Black followed by a kill from Whitley Taylor pushed the Gator lead back to four points at 14-10 and the Gators finished off the set to move up 2-0 in the match.
Baker to a quick 14-2 lead in the third set and was never threatened as the Gators finished off the win.
Baker Coach Tommiko Parks found plenty that needed to be fixed in what seemed to be a solid win.
“We weren’t very sharp tonight,” she said. “We played one game last week so we are trying to make sure we are getting back in the groove so we can start peaking as it gets closer to district tournament time.
“Any time you get a win in a district game it’s important. But the most important thing is we are getting better as the season goes along. We will use this game to get better as we go into the district tournament and the get ready for the playoffs.”
BAKER 3, LAUREL HILL 0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-15)
Laurel Hill (3-4, 0-2): Bailey Stokes 2 aces, 4 assists, 2 digs; Micah McVay 4 assists, 1 dig; Kaylyn McLaney 2 digs, 1 kill; Olivia Stewart 6 blocks, 6 digs; Lauren Mitchell 1 block, 1 dig; Laney Fugate 2 digs; Rachel Welsh 7 digs, 1 kill; Kylee Seymour 2 blocks, 3 kills; Kaylee L’Homme 1 ace, 1 dig, 2 kills.
Baker (5-1, 3-0): Jessica Black 4 aces, 9 assists, 1 dig; Lena Daoud 1 ace, 4 assists, 10 digs, 1 kill; Brittany Brunson 1 ace, 2 blocks, 9 digs, 8 kills; Emily Stewart 5 aces, 4 digs, 5 kills; Taylor Brunson 16 assists, 1 dig, 5 kills; Whitley Taylor 3 kills; Amanada Parisi 1 kill; Ayajah Coleman 1 block, 5 kills; Ashley Black 3 aces, 1 dig, 3 kills.
Baker-Laurel Hill volleyball box
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker takes district volleyball win from Laurel Hill (PHOTOS)