District volleyball roundup: Jay can't stop the Baker train, Booker T. Washington falls

A roundup of district final games involving Pensacola-area teams from Thursday, Oct. 19.

District 1-1A

No. 1 Baker 3, No. 2 Jay 0

It was as if the Gators could turn it on whenever they wanted. And that's what they seeming did in the early stages of the third set.

Following an errant pass and a shot into the net, head coach Chelsea Medley signaled for time from her seat on the visiting bench. The Royals enjoyed a 6-4 advantage at this point, the latest Jay held a lead in any of the three sets.

Once the players returned to the floor, Baker flipped a switch and ripped off a 7-0 run.

That, essentially, was all she wrote.

Last year's Class 1A state runners-up throttled Jay in an hour's time, winning the District 1-1A title in sweeping fashion. Set scores were 25-13, 25-19 and 25-15 from Jay High School.

The Royals, the district's second seed, saw their record fall to 16-7 this season. However, three of their defeats came at the hands of Baker, with all of them ending in three sets.

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"We knew coming into tonight that Baker was a powerhouse, and they have been for a very long time," Jay head coach Carey Locklin said.

Speaking of that powerhouse, the Gators, the district's top-seed and No. 1 ranked team in the region, captured their 21st consecutive district title. They actually started this season winless in their first six matches, all of which against 4A schools and above, but have gone 14-5 since.

The favorite to make it back to state look every bit the part on Thursday night.

"I'm just humbled to be able to carry on the tradition," Medley said. "I got to play and get four of these myself when I was at Baker. To keep it going is just a great experience to be a part of it."

After winning the opening set with relative ease, the road team used another spurt to gain separation in the most competitive frame of the night. A massive spike from senior middle hitter Haley Westberry kickstarted an 8-2 burst, putting the Gators ahead 19-10.

The hosts returned the favor when a block from freshman Aubreigh Nelson capped a 5-1 run late in the second, but it was too little, too late.

Here are three takeaways from Thursday's district championship game.

Baker's Adams 'can put (the ball) wherever she wants to put it'

Westberry is one of five Baker players measured at 5-foot-10 or taller. She, along with junior middle hitter Madolyn Mills, are 6-0.

If the figures don't prove it, it was fairly apparent with every swing that the Gators were the bigger team, not to mention more athletic as well.

Whether it was the first touch on serves or defending shots that got through the block, Jay struggled with its opponent's force. And as result, rarely could muster an effective attack.

"They have some really good hitters. They came in serve to us strong and got on a run with their serves. We couldn't play it to our setter and get a hit off it, which hurt us several times," Locklin said. "Our defense was out of position, we had ducks in a row on the back row several times when they hit. And they also found the sweet spot on us a couple of times with tips."

Beyond the hitters, Locklin and senior libero Ella Nelson each said Lily Adams gave the Royals the most trouble.

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The senior setter was a maestro, delivering two-handed jump assists to her hitters either on the outside or the middle. And one particular play, she called her our number, calmly hitting the ball over her head and over the net into a open spot on Jay's end of the floor. Before the ball touched the floor, Adams had her back turned, ready to congratulate her teammates.

"They can read our court really well and we make very minor mistakes that can cost us, a lot," Ella Nelson said. "The setter, she's really good. She can put (the ball) wherever she wants to put it. And that's probably the biggest challenge."

Nelson and Godwin are Jay's building blocks

Despite how much the Gators were in command, the Royals held their own in moments with their block.

The players most effective in that area also so happen to be two of its youngest: Aubreigh Nelson and Darby Godwin. Each swatted multiple shots for points.

Godwin, a fellow freshman who was recently called up from junior varsity, was impressive according to Locklin.

"She's just getting her feet wet on varsity, so she's learning how to get out to blocks, how to read the setter and get out to where the setter is setting," Locklin said. "She got her hands out on a few (shots), so as a young player, I saw some potential there. Some of the blocks, we didn't get out to quick enough and close them up, but we did get our hands on a few of them."

Distractions or not, Royals get ready for regionals

Entering districts ranked third in the region, the Royals are a virtual lock to continue playing. They will likely play District 2-1A champion Chipley in a regional semifinal.

However, the team will have to knock off some rust. Jay had 10 days between its regular-season finale and a thrilling district-semifinal win over Northview. The school's homecoming festivities this week didn't make things any easier, but the players and coaches will have time to prepare.

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"Our focus is not all there, and that hurt us a little bit," Locklin said. "As for next week, we're just going to get into the gym everyday with homecoming soon being over and work everyday until we get on the road and play our next one."

"It's going be tough practices and hard work," Ella Nelson said. "I think we have a good shot as long as we work on the things we need to work on and continue to push ourselves."

District 1-5A

No. 1 Choctaw 3, No. 2 Booker T. Washington 0

The Wildcats' dreams of hoisting a district title will have to wait one more year.

Behind 11 kills from Lucy Raines and 36 assists from Gianna Derosa, the top-seeded Indians claimed the District 1-5A crown following a sweep of No. 2 Booker T. Washington. Set scores were 25-14, 25-18 and 25-21 in favor of host Choctaw.

Stats were unavailable for the Wildcats, who last captured a district championship in 2016. They have finished as district runner-up in each of the last three years. Their last two title-game losses have come against the Indians.

Booker T. Washington awaits who it'll play in the state playoffs. The team entered districts ranked sixth in Region 1-5A.

Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (772) 985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: District volleyball roundup: Jay, Booker T. Washington denied title wins