Niceville, FWB and Baker advance to volleyball semifinals

Staff reports

District volleyball tournaments kicked off Monday with Niceville and Fort Walton Beach picking up wins in the District 1-5A tournament at Fort Walton Beach and District 1-2A host Baker picking up a win over Vernon.

Stetson bound Jennica Hagberg set the table for her Eagle teammates with 30 assists as Niceville swept Escambia 3-0. Game scores were 25-6, 25-11, 25-17.

Ijanae Holman was on the receiving end of many of Hagberg’s assists as Holman slammed down a team-leading 10 kills to go along with seven aces.

Cat Houston was hot at the net as well with nine kills.

Niceville faces the winner of today’s Choctawhatchee-Tate match on Wednesday.

Host Fort Walton Beach made short work of Pace beating the Patriots 25-7, 25-9, 25-18.

No other stats were available from the Vikings at press time. Fort Walton Beach takes on the winner of today’s Crestview-Pine Forest match in Wednesday’s semifinals.

Niceville 3, Escambia 0

Scores: 25-6, 25-11, 25-17

Niceville (23-3): Jennica Hagberg 5 aces, 30 assists, 3 kills, 5 digs, 1 block; Cat Houston 3 aces, 9 kills, 2 digs; Ijanae Holman 7 aces, 10 kills, 1 dig; Taylor Tiahrt 3 aces, 4 kills, 5 digs; Racheal Farrell 2 kills; Jenna Hassell 2 aces, 5 digs; Amber Jenkins 2 kills; Lauren Foy 1 ace, 2 kills, 1 dig; Debbie deKok 4 kills, 3 digs; Jaclyn Mailoto 3 aces, 3 digs, 1 kill; Karson Hinds 1 dig.

Next: Niceville will play winner of Choctawhatchee-Tate in the semifinals on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Fort Walton Beach 3, Pace 0

Scores: 25-7, 25-9, 25-18.

No stats available

Next: Wednesday vs. winner of Crestview-Pine Forest.

District 1-2A: It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Baker punched its ticket to the District 1-2A finals and a spot in next week’s region quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Vernon.

In beating the Yellow Jackets 25-11, 23-25, 25-18, 25-15, Baker advances to the regional quarterfinals for the 17th straight year. And Thurs-day the Gators go after their fifth straight district title when they meet the winner of today’s Pensacola Christian match in Thursday’s finals.

Pensacola Christian beat Jay 25-22, 12-25, 25-17, 27-25

Apryl Crawford powered the Gator attack with 14 kills, 4 aces, and three blocks.

Senior Chelsea Combest had another strong match with 13 assists to go along with seven kills, six digs and 3 aces.

District 1-2A at Baker

Baker 3, Vernon 1

Scores: 25-11, 23-25, 25-18, 25-15

Baker (22-3): Chelsea Combest 3 aces, 7 kills, 13 assists, 6 digs; Whitney Boutwell 5 aces, 3 kills, 4 digs; Kaylee Bradley 6 aces, 3 kills, 6 blocks, 2 digs; Apryl Crawford 4 aces, 14 kills, 3 blocks, 7 assists; Kali Flanders 1 kill, 6 digs, Courtney Fountain 1 kill, 2 blocks; Sydney Boutwell 8 digs

Also: Pensacola Christian 3, Jay 1

Scores: 25-22, 12-25, 25-17, 27-25

Tonight: Pensacola Christian vs. Freeport, 7 p.m.

Thursday: Baker vs. winner of Pensacola Christian-Freeport, 7 p.m.