H.S. Volleyball: Pace is area's first team to 10 wins in 2023 after sweeping West Florida

With just one losing season over the previous seven years, West Florida Tech has produced one of the area’s most consistent teams under head coach David Bryant.

But there’s one program that’s long been a thorn in the Jaguars’ side.

Pace has reigned supreme in most of its prior matchups with West Florida, and their latest meeting wasn’t much different.

Sandwiched in between a competitive second set, the Patriots overcame slow starts in the first and third frames to corral a three-set sweep on Wednesday night from Pace High School.

Set scores were 25-18, 25-23 and 25-21.

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“We started off with some jitters and were a little nervous and a little tense, which sometimes is going to happen in home games, but they stuck through the jitters and played really aggressive offensively,” Pace head coach Cody Trimm said. “We kind of cleaned up some plays in serve receive and defense that we’ve struggled with in the last couple of weeks. We probably played one of our better defensive games that we played all year.”

Defense played a key part in a Patriots rally during the opening set. The home team did not enjoy a lead before Trimm called a timeout with the score at 16-14 in favor of the Jags. But spearheaded by blocks from sophomore outside hitter Marley Manning and senior middle blocker Bailee Sproat, Pace scored 11 of the following 13 points to close out the frame.

The Patriots opened up as much as a 13-7 advantage in set No. 2 before the visitors stormed back. Sophomore libero Anna Douglas delivered an ace to put West Florida 19-18, leading to another Trimm timeout. Attacks from senior middle blocker Daylin Williamson and junior outside hitter Faith Reid helped stem the tide before sophomore outside hitter Cambree Klein gave the host a 2-0 cushion with one of her match-high 12 kills.

Despite allowing the first six points in the third, Pace, behind three aces from senior libero Lily Sutton, went a 6-0 run of its own to take an 11-8 lead. The home team wouldn’t trail again.

“We just had a positive energy and always wanted to stay consistent with our serves,” Sproat said. “We had to do what we had to do to get a kill.”

With wins in four of their last five matches, the Patriots improved their record to 10-4 and became the area's first team to 10 wins this season. The Jaguars suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 5-1. The team dropped to 1-18 all-time against Pace, which includes an 0-9 mark at Pace.

“I think we could’ve won the game,” West Florida head coach David Bryant said. “It’s always difficult to come and play here, but we’re expecting different results when they come and play us.

“Defensively, we didn’t dig the ball well the first two sets, and then we made adjustments and did a better job in the third set. It’s hard to win here, we’ve never done it before.”

Here are three takeaways from Wednesday’s match.

‘So far, I like it’

When asked what areas the Patriots were able to exploit, Bryant pointed to No. 2 in white.

Manning was a defensive presence early from the back line before making contributions late with four kills in the final set. It seem like wherever the team needed her, the sophomore came through while providing a spark along the way.

“I try to be the main source of energy for everybody because if nobody is being loud, everybody is being quiet,” she said. “I just try to encourage everybody, lift them up and help them do better.”

Manning's impact has been felt throughout the season in her first season at Pace. After spending last year at Milton, she has fit in nicely at her new home as she entered the week ranked among area leaders in kills, aces and digs.

“This year it’s been a big change, school-wise and volleyball-wise, but I definitely think this has been more beneficial for me. So far, I like it,” the sophomore said.

Trimm said of Manning: “Her athleticism is what people see, but she’s really got a good mental understanding of the game. She’s a good defensive player, a good serve receiver and really understands nuances of the game that sophomores usually don’t get that early.”

'We’re just trying to build'

The Patriots are far from a one-person team, particularly on the offensive end.

With junior setter Kinsley Hines dishing out passes, Pace builds an effective attack from both the outside, with Klein, Reid and senior Ashlyn Hines as well as from the middle, with Sproat and Williamson, who finished with nine kills.

Statistically, the Patriots appear to have taken a step up, as the team is averaging more kills per set, a higher kill percentage and a better hitting percentage than the year before.

“We really have a strong philosophy of trying to spread the ball around because it makes it harder for the opponent to try and defend all three hitters and back-row hitters,” Trimm said. “That’s really important for us to continue to do that, we did it really well tonight.”

Following three consecutive losing seasons, Pace enjoyed a turnaround campaign in 2022, going 14-12 before bowing out in the District 1-6A tournament. With another winning year on the horizon, the Patriots aim to make the state playoffs for the first time since advancing to the regional semifinals in 2018. The team finished 23-5 and won a district title that season.

Trimm isn’t interested in comparing his current squad to the program’s past success. He’s mostly focused on remaining in the present and making progress.

“Every year is its own animal with unique situations as you go through it, but we’re trying,” Trimm said. “We’re working hard. The girls are busting their butts to get better everyday. We’re looking forward to more practice time, we haven’t had much as of late, but we’re just trying to build.”

Sproat added: “My expectations are just to have fun with the team. Everyone is like a family. We’re all together on this, win or lose.”

Pace plays at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Crestview.

'Everyone contributes'

West Florida’s first loss was just a blemish to what has been a tremendous start to 2023.

Four of the Jaguars’ five wins have been sweeps. Their triumph that didn’t end in three sets was the team’s best victory of the season thus far. West Florida earned a comeback victory on Aug. 28 at Elberta (Ala.) after dropping the first two sets.

“We’ve been competitive with everyone we’ve played with,” Bryant said. “These kids want to win and they’ve worked hard to get where they are. As a magnet school, we have things going against us that other schools don’t have to deal with, but that’s not really an excuse. We go out to win every night against 5A schools, 6A schools, or whatever it is.”

Thirteen players saw time on the floor for the Jaguars Wednesday night as the team uses depth for its success.

Leading West Florida in kills, aces and digs, junior outside hitter Jaden Gentry is the team’s best all-around player as well one of its three captains alongside seniors Christina Wells and Sophie Pan. Fellow senior Lily Hatch is second on the team in kills while 6-foot-2 senior Kayla Anderson is one of the area’s best in the middle.

Gentry posted team-highs of 12 kills and eight digs against the Patriots. Hatch added three aces.

Lastly, junior Avery Varias quarterbacks the offense in her first season as the starting setter. She had 22 assists on Wednesday.

“Everyone contributes,” Bryant said. “It’s just a good strong team with a deep bench and we’re lucky to have such a good group of girls.”

The Jaguars look to bounce back at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Foley (Ala.).

Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (850) 985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Volleyball: Pace takes down West Florida in battle of rising programs