Undermanned Freeport scoring high marks
By RANDY DICKSON
randyd@nwfdailynews.com
It has been a great run for the Freeport volleyball team this year.
Although often outmanned with only six players, the Bulldogs under first-year coach Stacey Morrison have made their presence felt in District 1-2A.
Freeport finished the regular season with a 16-5 record. More importantly, the Bulldogs tied Baker for the best record in the district with a 7-1 mark.
A coin toss gave the Bulldogs the top seed in the district tournament that starts today at Baker.
Morrison, who came to Freeport from Arkansas, admitted she didn¡¦t know what to expect and might have been a little intimidated replacing longtime coach Tina Knight, who guided the team to an 18-6 record last year and a spot in the regional semifinals.
¡§It was scary coming in after her because they had such a wonderful year last year,¡¨ Morrison said. ¡§But she (Knight) trained them well and it¡¦s been a wonderful year.
¡§The girls surprise me every day. They are awesome to work with and a wonderful team.¡¨
Setter Lindsey Jones, one of four sophomores on the squad, is please with the way the season has progressed.
¡§I think it has gone really well,¡¨ she said. ¡§Our new coach is learning a lot from us and we¡¦ve learned a lot from her.¡¨
Autumn Warner agrees.
¡§I think the season has gone really good,¡¨ she said. ¡§We¡¦ve had some good wins and some tough losses, but we have to learn from our mistakes.
¡§Winning against Baker was a surprise. We worked hard for that win and it was a good feeling.¡¨
The small roster has challenged the Bulldog players. They haven¡¦t been able to sit out a game with an injury or illness.
Morrison acknowledged the lack of depth could have presented some problems, but the team was able to work through the nagging aches and pains and minor illnesses.
¡§It was real hard on me because I¡¦m the setter,¡¨ Jones said. ¡§There was nobody to come in for me so I just had to go out there and push through things and let it go and try.¡¨
The Bulldogs, who open play in the tournament Tuesday against the winner of the Jay-Pensacola Christian match, only need to win one match to advance to the region quarterfinals. If the Bulldogs then win the championship match on Thursday against the winner of Baker and Vernon, they would host in the first round of regional play.
Morrison knows it¡¦s going to be a battle to the end.
¡§There are a lot of great teams out there: Baker, Vernon and the teams from the Pensacola area,¡¨ she said, ¡§but I think everyone is looking at us, Baker and Vernon in the tournament.¡¨
Warner believes her team is ready for the challenge ahead.
¡§I think we¡¦ve been working hard and will do good in the tournament,¡¨ she said. ¡§After that we can get ready for the playoffs.¡¨
Volleyball Glance
Here is a quick look at the other district tournaments in the area this week:
Ć District 1-5A
Fort Walton Beach enters as the defending champion and No. 2 seed. Niceville, like last year, is the top seed entering the tournament. The four-day tourney begins today at Fort Walton Beach, with the top two seeds on a path to meet for the district title once again.
Ć District 1-4A
Navarre is the top seed for the tournament, which is being held at Gulf Breeze and has a first round bye. The Raiders were eliminated in the semifinals last year, but have an easier path to the title game this time around. Navarre is looking for its first regional berth since 2002.
Ć District 1-3A
Walton is looking for another berth to regionals, as the Braves were runner-up last year. The tournament is being held at Walton, and the hosts open with Northview on Tuesday. The winner faces the Pensacola Catholic-South Walton winner for the title on Thursday.
Ć District 1-A
Rocky Bayou was the champion last year, but the Knights enter the tournament as the fifth seed. Laurel Hill is the third seed, and both area schools will have to down the top two seeds (John Paul II and Munroe) for a spot in the title game and in regionals.
