Lady Dolphin volleyball team edges defending district champs in five games
Gulf Breeze rallies from two games to one down to win opener
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Photo courtesy of Sue and Steve Violette Jasmine Crowell (5) and Celia Eddy (3) block a Washington spike Thursday in Gulf Breeze.

The Gulf Breeze Lady Dolphin volleyball team rallied from two games to one down to beat the defending district champion Washington 20-25, 25-19, 15-25, 25-19, 15-5 Thursday in Gulf Breeze, the season opener for both teams.

The Lady Dolphins led by four in three different occasions early in game one after trailing 4-1. Washington tied the game three more times before taking an 18-16 lead. A block from Tobie Bass, one of five on the night, tied the game at 19, but from there, Washington scored six of the last seven points to take game one.

Gulf Breeze took a 3-0 lead in game two after two of Celia Eddy's 11 kills. The Lady Cats, tied the game at 6 before Tristan Powers scored five straight points to give Gulf Breeze the lead for good.

Powers, who scored a teamhigh 18 points on serve, added three more to end game two.

Bass recorded one one of her 10 kills to make it 4-3 GBHS in game three before Washington took control, scoring 11 of the next 13 points.

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News The Lady Dolphin volleyball team celebrates its come from behind win over Washington.

Jasmine Crowell recorded a kill to get Gulf Breeze within five (16-11), but the Lady Dolphins wouldn't get any closer as the Lady Cats took a 2-1 lead.

Lacie Brothers, who had six kills, scored six straight points on serve for a 7-2 lead. Washington got to within three at 8-5 before Powers scored four more points on serve to make it 12-5.

Brittany Wheeler, who had seven kills, scored five straight points on serve to make it 21-8. Washington fought off three game points before a kills from Powers forced game five.

Gulf Breeze forced a sideout to break a 4-4 tie. From there, Eddy scored seven straight points on serve to put the match away. Bass had a pair of kills in that run.

Eddy had 15 points on serve, while Brothers had eight and Brothers seven.

Eddy also had five blocks and six aces, while Powers had 22 assists, nine digs and four aces. Alison Milam added six digs for Gulf Breeze.

Washington JV 25-25,

Lady Dolphins 22-18

Kelly Hayes had five points on serve, while Conner Tate had four as the JV team lost a close match to Washington. Lady Dolphin ninth grade

25-25,Washington 19-10

Katie Stanhagen had eight points, while Salllie Papajohn had seven to lead the GBHS ninth graders to a season-opening win.

The Lady Dolphins play a non-district match Tuesday (after the News' deadline) against Catholic before playing a match at PHS today, starting with the ninth grade match at 4.