Prep Report: Baker sweeps I-Coast 3-0
Part of the festivities Tuesday night for the Ida Baker Bulldogs’ senior night volleyball match against Island Coast was a slideshow scheduled at the conclusion of the contest.
During the match, the Bulldog seniors put on their own highlight show, which included big serves, crisp passes and many powerful spikes.
With six of the eight seniors on the floor at the start, the Bulldogs scored the first 20 points of the match and carried that momentum to a 25-2, 25-9, 25-9 victory over the Gators.
Senior Chelsea Shafer hammered nine of her 19 kills in the opening game. Senior setter Deonnah Findley orchestrated the attack with eight assists, and senior Taylor Van Horn accounted for 19 service points in the 20-0 opening run. Senior Taryn Maymon had four of her 10 kills in that stretch.
Many of the spikes were greeted with “oohs” and “aahs” from the large crowd of supporters, who turned out for senior night.
“We were just really excited to show all the people here, show ourselves and our coaches that we were ready to play,” Shafer said. “We wanted to do our best.”
The Bulldogs’ eight seniors, who were recognized Tuesday, are captains Shafer, Findley and Van Horn, along with Maymon, Chelsey Cline, Julia Robery, Chelsea Gomer and Stefanie Creamer.
They’ve been key in helping the Bulldogs post three consecutive winning seasons, including a 16-6 mark this year, which is the best in the school’s five-year history.
Though the Bulldogs had a significant advantage in experience and talent compared to the young Gators (5-16), they still wanted to set the tone early in the match, and did exactly that.
“It was a pretty awesome way to come out,” said Taylor Van Horn, who finished with 29 service points.
After taking the opening game, the Bulldogs scored the first three points of game two, which included a block by Robery and an ace by Cline. Robery tallied three blocks for the match.
The Gators managed to slice the lead to 4-3, but the Bulldogs countered with eight straight to make it 12-3.
In game three, Maymon sparked the Bulldogs with three consecutive kills and Findley served six points to push the lead to 10-3.
The Gators were unable to keep pace with the Bulldogs playing so well, but managed to string together more points in the second and third games.
Sophomore Dana Ruff recorded three aces and tallied 20 digs. Sophomore Suli Gonzalez had an ace and junior Sadie Alama had a kill.
Mariner 3, Cape Coral 1: After falling to rival Cape Coral in a five-setter earlier this season, the host Mariner Tritons returned the favor on senior night with a four-game victory 25-16, 25-17, 23-25, 26-24.
“Being senior night and homecoming week, we came out very motivated,” Tritons coach Tom Faasse said.
The inspired play helped the Tritons (9-14) take the first two games, but the Seahawks fought back with a close win in the third game.
Game four was back and forth, until the Tritons managed to get the bounces at the end.
Senior Jamie Bentley continued her strong defensive play with 21 digs and added three aces and five kills. Junior Samantha Greenwell had 15 assists, four kills and five aces.