Niceville, FWB to meet for District 1-5A title again
By JARED MACARIN
jaredm@nwfdailynews.com
FORT WALTON BEACH — It may be a different year, but it’s the same names at the top of District 1-5A volleyball again this season.
Fort Walton Beach and Niceville will face one another for the championship for the third straight year after both earned 3-0 victories on Wednesday in the semifinals. The Vikings (20-6) defeated Crestview and the top-seeded Eagles (24-3) took down Tate.
The two top seeds will play tonight at 6 for the championship and the right to host in the regional quarterfinals. Fort Walton Beach has won the title each of the past two seasons.
“Everything we’ve done this season is in the past now,” Niceville coach Kris Hagberg said. “We’re not thinking about regionals at all. Our focus is on (tonight).”
In the first two games of its match with Crestview, No. 2 seed Fort Walton Beach was slow out of the gate before grabbing control late, winning 25-19 and 25-22. In the third and final game, the Vikings raced out to a lead and never looked back as they won 25-9 to close out the match with force and cement their spot in the playoffs.
“We’ve had more intensity in practice lately, and it’s translating onto the court,” Fort Walton Beach coach John Key said.
The Vikings were led in hitting by Jessica Guidry’s 10 kills on the outside, while middle hitters Melissa Smith and Jessica Davis had nine and six kills, respectively. Emily Lyerly helped Fort Walton Beach control the pace with 31 assists.
Courtney Haines had five kills to lead the Bulldogs (12-6), while Amy Katzman had six assists.
“We had a good season and the program is only going to get better,” said Crestview coach Emily Trepack.
As the Vikings had done just a few hours earlier, Niceville struggled early in its first game with Tate. The Eagles took the first set 25-21 before storming through the final two games, 25-8 and 25-13, as the Aggies (18-5) were unable to stop Niceville’s balanced attack. In each of the final two games, Niceville went on a streak of 11 straight points.
Rachael Farrell and Ijanae Holman each had nine kills for the Eagles, while Cat Houston had six and Taylor Tiahrt added five. Jennica Hagberg had 34 assists and five kills, while Katie Weeks contributed four kills and five blocks.
“We started slowly today, but our second and third games were improved,” Hagberg said. “I like the way we spread the ball around and we had good balance, which is always a positive.”
Fort Walton Beach 3, Crestview 0
Scores: 25-19, 25-22, 25-9
FWB (20-6): Jessica Guidry 10 kills, 6 aces, 2 digs; Jessica Davis 6 kills, 4 aces, 4 digs, 3 blocks; Brook Troop 2 kills; Emily Guidry 4 kills, 1 ace, 2 blocks, 2 digs; Melissa Smith 9 kills; Emily Lyerly 31 assists, 1 ace, 1 dig, 1 block; Savannah Bruner 2 aces, 1 dig; Katrina Slater 4 digs.
Crestview (12-6): Sarah Hagedorn 17 digs, 1 ace; Courtney Haines 4 digs, 5 kills, 1 ace, 1 assist; Amy Katzman 2 digs, 6 assists, 1 ace; Sarah Smith 2 digs, 3 assists; Jessica Long 2 digs, 1 kill; Alicia Dukes 1 dig, 3 kills; Monique Thurman 2 kills; Erin Koester 1 dig; Jordan Thurman 1 dig, 1 kill; Britanni McKnight 1 dig; Lauren Estep 1 dig.
Niceville 3, Tate 0
Scores: 25-21, 25-8, 25-13
Niceville (24-3): Jennica Hagberg 34 assists, 5 kills, 4 digs, 2 blocks, 2 aces; Cat Houston 6 kills, 1 dig, 2 blocks, 1 ace; Taylor Tiahrt 5 kills, 2 assists, 4 digs, 1 block, 2 aces; Ijanae Holman 9 kills, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 digs, 1 ace; Rachael Farrell 9 kills, 1 block; Amber Jenkins 1 assist, 1 dig; Jenna Hassell 1 kill, 7 digs, 1 ace; Katie Weeks 4 kills, 5 blocks; Lauren Foy 2 kills, 1 assist, 2 digs.
