Pirates volleyball family takes final voyage

Sydney Jaco held back tears as she walked into Braden River High’s gymnasium with her family at her side.

She embraced them as she received flowers and a hug from head volleyball coach Matthew McElhiney, holding her composure the entire time.

Once her teammates started speaking, though, her resolve crumbled. Those teammates, and her school, meant so much to her.

It was Senior Night for the Pirates volleyball team, and Jaco, alongside Lea Beukema, Serenity McNair and Olivia Perez, were being honored. It was emotional for all four, but for Jaco and her family, the night was a bit different.

Since the school, which opened in 2005, started its volleyball program in 2007, there has always been a Jaco on the volleyball team. First it was Kaleigh, then Brittany and Maddie. Last was Sydney, and now, the Jaco presence at Braden River will be gone.

“It hasn’t hit me yet,” Sydney said of wearing the Pirates uniform for the final time. “I really don’t want it to hit me, but I know it will.”

It could have ended sooner. The Jaco family moved into a Lakewood Ranch High-eligible area prior to this school year. Wynna Jaco, the family matriarch, said she tried to convince Sydney to switch schools. It was a much shorter commute, Wynna argued, meaning Sydney would have more free time after practice. Sydney didn’t budge. She was going to stay at Braden River and finish what her sisters started.

“It was non-negotiable,” Wynna said.

Sydney still remembers playing matches with all three of her sisters in their backyard “almost every day.” The Jacos are a competitive family, she said, so nothing would be held back in those contests. Even their dad, former professional boxer David Jaco, would join the fun. Sydney also attended every Pirate volleyball game she could to watch her sisters.

Before McElhiney arrived at Braden River in 2011, he coached at Bayshore High and ran what was then known as the Coastline Volleyball club program, now the WAVE Volleyball Alliance. Brittney and Maddie played for his club teams (Sydney eventually, too) and Kaleigh coached with him. Before he ever coached Sydney, he was familiar with her. She would come to practice with her sisters and work on her bumps, just for fun. She’s been around the game her entire life, he said, and it shows in her on-court knowledge today.

“Her passing, her ability to read things, is so much faster than everybody else,” McElhiney said.

The sisters leave behind a legacy at Braden River. Kaleigh and Brittany led the program to two straight regional finals appearances in 2009-2010. The Pirates never made it to states, but the relatively young school has had more success than most programs, and a lot of that is due to the Jaco family. An argument could be made that Sydney is the best defender in program history. She is the Pirates all-time leader in digs.

The Jacos would never take credit for the program’s successes, though, Wynna said. All four sisters believed the program, and their teammates, made them who they were.

McElhiney said it’s going to be weird not coaching a Jaco sister next season. Sydney has been a great role model, he said, and he hopes her leadership qualities have found their way into the hearts of his returnees. Wynna, too, said not going to the Pirates gym two nights a week next fall will take some adjustment, and called the realization “bittersweet.”

The Pirates beat Bradenton Christian in four sets on Senior Night (27-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-19). For Sydney, the final Jaco, it was tough to put her feelings into words.

“It (Braden River volleyball) means everything to me,” Sydney said. “It means family. It means friendship. Playing here was such a blessing. It’s sad to know that I’m leaving but it was a great four years.”

Her voice began to crack. She tried in vain to fan away the tears before letting them go.

“They are such an amazing group of people,” she continued, speaking not just of this year’s class but all the Pirates she played beside, or watched from the bleachers. “I get emotional talking about this, oh my gosh. I hate to be leaving, but I hope they do well next year. I’m going to come to games when I can. I have to come.

They just mean everything to me.”