U15 Barracudas qualify for nationals
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Next stop - Dallas The Pensacola Beach Volleyball Club's U15 team won the Gulf Coast Bid Championships Saturday at UWF to clinch a spot in the 2008 USA Junior Olympic Girls' Volleyball Champions June 26 in Dallas. They are (kneeling, from left): Cheyenne Chapman, Sallie Papajohn, Jasmine Crowell and Ashton Baker. Back (from left): Coach Regina Scott, Lindsey Hawthorne, Sarah Lewis, Alison Milam, Katie Stanhagen and Lauren Alverson.

The Pensacola Beach Volleyball Club's U15 team won the Gulf Coast Bid Championship on Saturday at the University of West Florida, defeating Deep South 25-14, 25-21.

With the win, the U15 Barracudas will compete in the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships, starting on June 26.

The Barracudas played four matches early on Saturday before playing the onematch championship with Deep South. They beat Navarre 25-12, 25-10 and the Lizards 25-20, 22-25, 15-12 - both U16 teams.

The Barracudas then beat Deep South 25-16, 25-23 before losing to the U16 Club Somba from Mobile 18-25, 23-25.

The U15s trailed 6-5 in game one against Deep South, a team they had beaten six consecutive times. Lauren Alverson then served three straight points, including two aces, to give the Barracudas the lead for good in that game.

Deep South, from Dothan, got to within 9-8 before the Barracudas outscored them 16-6 the rest of the way behind the serving of Ashton Baker, Jasmine Crowell and Katie Stanhagen.

Deep South made game two close late before aces from Alverson and Sallie Papajohn closed it out.

The Barracudas' U17 team defeated Navarre 25-21, 25-15 in the semifinals before losing to the Fort Walton Unity 25-8, 25-18. The U17 Barracudas fell behind 5-1 in game two with Navarre before rallying.