GBHS splits pair in jamboree
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Rhonda Randazzo/Special to the News Alison Milam passes the ball during Saturday's Preseason Classic in Gulf Breeze.

The Gulf Lady Dolphin volleyball team bounced back from a loss to Catholic to defeat Pace 23-25, 25-5, 15-12 Saturday in the Lady Dolphin Preseason Classic Saturday.

A block by Jasmine Crowell tied game one with Catholic at 3. But the Lady Crusaders forced a sideout, then added three points on serve to take the lead. A block by Brittany Wheeler tied the game again at 8 before a service error then four straight points gave Catholic the lead for good.

Celia Eddy, who had nine points on serve, scored six straight points on serve, including three aces, to make it a 9-4 Gulf Breeze lead. Lacie Brothers scored a point on serve to make it 12-6, but from there, Catholic scored 19 of the last 27 points to end the match. Gulf Breeze didn't score a point on serve after taking that 12-6 lead.

Tobie Bass had three kills and two blocks, while Eddy had three kills. Tristen Powers had three assists.

Lady Dolphins 23-25-15,

Pace 25-5-12

Gulf Breeze overcame some poor serving early to win a three-game match with Pace.

The first three serves Gulf Breeze had in the match were 'bad serves' - ones that either went into the net or were long or wide. The start set a bad precedent for the Lady Dolphins, who had nine bad serves in the game.

Bass had three points on serve, while Lacie Brothers and Powers had two each, but it wouldn't be enough as Catholic put away game one on their third game point chance.

Gulf Breeze took a 3-0 lead in game one before Catholic forced a sideout. A kill by Brothers, one of her five in the match, forced another sideout before Eddy reeled off 13 consecutive serves, nine of which were aces.

Pace wouldn't string together consecutive points the rest of the game, which ended with a kill by Eddy, one of her six in the match.

Game three was a nailbiter, with the match tied on eight different occasions.

Gulf Breeze forced a sideout to tie the game at 11. On Powers' serve, Eddy recorded two blocks that put the Lady Dolphins ahead to stay. Pace forced a sideout at 13-12, but a kille from Powers, followed by an ace by Eddy closed out the match.

Powers had 14 assists in the win, while Brittany Wheeler had three kills.

The Lady Dolphins host defending district champion Washington in their season opener today. The ninth graders start at 4 p.m., followed by the JV (5) and the varsity (6).

Gulf Breeze will then host Catholic on Tuesday, starting at 4 p.m.