Pirates fall in regional finals

FORT MYERS — The Braden River High volleyball team had been there before.

They knew what to expect.

But no matter how prepared they may have been, when it was all said and done, they simply were outmatched.

For the second-consecutive season, the Lady Pirates advanced to the Class 4A-Region 3 finals. And for the second-consecutive season, Braden River (27-4) faced Fort Myers (27-3) — the District 11 champion and last year’s state runner-up.

On Nov. 13, Fort Myers’ experience showed as the host Green Wave swept the Lady Pirates 25-12, 25-14, 25-11.

“They’re a very, very good team,” coach Steven Haugh said of Fort Myers. “I would not doubt they have a chance to win this whole thing.”

The result was eerily familiar to last season’s regional final when the District 10 champion Lady Pirates were dominated by the Green Wave. Fort Myers took control of the match in the first game, as the Lady Pirates were unable to contend with the Green Wave’s athleticism.

“They make us press the whole time, and our serve receive kind of broke down, and we couldn’t do anything to get in system other than set up high and outside,” Haugh said. “Our middles couldn’t get involved, and that’s to their credit.”

Braden River fell into a hole early on when Fort Myers scored six straight points to take a 12-4 advantage in Game 1. The Lady Pirates were able to keep it close early on in Game 2, even taking a 5-4 lead, before the Green Wave rattled off nine straight points to take a 14-5 lead.

Senior Kelley Shiels led the way for Braden River with 11 digs. Senior Lindsay Blake added 10 digs, and junior Brittany Jaco finished with three kills and three digs.

And although the season may have ended earlier than Braden River would’ve liked, the team has plenty of which to be proud. The Lady Pirates set a program record for wins in a single season with 27 while capturing their second district championship and advancing to the regional final for the second straight year.

Braden River earned a trip to the regional finals after sweeping George Steinbrenner 25-23, 25-15, 25-21 in a Class 4A-Region 3 semifinal Nov. 9.

“Before the game, we had a big talk and said, ‘This is it. If we don’t win, we don’t make it,’” Jaco said. “We starting getting the great passes and the great serves, and it just all came (together) — the momentum and the energy.”

In the semifinal, Jaco led the way for Braden River with 12 digs and 14 kills. Shiels recorded 11 digs followed by Blake and Natalie Aluise with nine and eight digs, respectively. Nicole Hubbard added five kills.

“I’m very proud of this team,” Haugh said. “They’ve had the best record they’ve ever had at Braden River. They’ve done everything that I’ve asked them to do. They were just a little over their head this game.

“Hopefully, we’ll be back to at least the same place next year,” he said. “That’s going to be our goal. “It takes a lot of luck and a lot of skill to get all the way through. And you know what? They’ve had an amazing season. They’ve accomplished everything they wanted to accomplish.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].