Washington ends Lady Dolphins' season, four-peats as district champs
GBHS misses playoffs for only second time in last nine years; finish 12-8
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Celia Eddy had 16 kills in the Lady Dolphins' four-game loss to Washington at districts last week.

Washington, winners of the last three district volleyball championships, didn't like being the third seed too much. So they did something about it, beating second seed Gulf Breeze on Oct. 23, then beating top seed Navarre in the championship game Thursday in Gulf Breeze, winning both in four games.

"That setter tip hurt us bad," GBHS coach Waynn Sellers said after the Lady Cats beat Gulf Breeze 25-20, 20-25, 25-23, 25- 20. "We didn't adjust to it."

The Lady Dolphins played without Lacie Brothers and played with Tobie Bass at less than 100 percent, both of whom are battling ankle injuries. Bass had six kills and two digs in the loss.

The losses required players who didn't play as much to step up. One of them, sophomore Robyn Davidson, scored four straight points on serve to get GBHS withing one at 11-10. Davidson was 14-for-15 on serves in the match.

The Lady Dolphins, who finished the season at 12-8, fell behind 9-3 in game one before rallying to tie the game at 13.

An ace from Deannette Zuniga, who had 23 digs, tied it at 13. Celia Eddy, who had a team-high 16 kills, forced a sideout to make it a one point deficit (16-15). But from there, Washington got the ball back and recorded kills on four of the next five points to take the lead for good.

Gulf Breeze didn't register one block in the decisive run.

Early in game two, Gulf Breeze had a lineup of all three of its freshman (Lauren Alverson, Jasmine Crowell and Alison Milam), two sophomores (Tristan Powers and Zuniga) and one junior (Eddy). Powers recorded an ace, while Crowell had one of her nine kills early in the game as Gulf Breeze led 6-2.

The Lady Dolphins led game two from start to finish, although Washington got to within a point on four different occasions.

A Washington service error, followed by two Crowell serves, gave GBHS a little breathing room at 17-13. Washington got back to within two, but a kill by Powers, another by Eddy and a block by Crowell on game point evened the match.

In game three, a Brittany Wheeler kill (one of her 10, to go with five digs) made it 10-9 GBHS before Washington scored seven of the next nine.

A service error gave Washington a game point at 24- 19, but the Lady Dolphins shook off four straight on a kill by Crowell and a block and two kills by Eddy before Washington's Mailinde Parker put the game away with a kill.

In the fourth game, Gulf Breeze led 5-0 on four Alverson serves. and led as late as 17-16. But several passing errors would prove costly down the stretch as another Parker kill ended the match.

Eddy also had five blocks and three digs to go with her 16 kills. Alverson and Milam both had nine digs, while Powers and Ali Venezia had seven each. Alverson was 23-for-24 serving. "Our freshman played exceptionally well," Sellers said.

Gulf Breeze has 11 of its 12 players back next season. Venezia is the team's only senior.

Washington and Navarre both play in regional quarterfinal matches today. Washington hosts Arnold, while Navarre plays at Wakulla, who knocked GBHS out of the playoffs the last two years.