Like mother, like daughter.
Last year, the Branford volleyball team advanced to its second straight FHSAA state semifinal under head coach Mendy Sikes.
This year, Sikes stepped down after eight seasons but remained on the sidelines as her daughter, Lachelle, took over as head coach.
On Tuesday night at Lenelle Phillips Morgan Gymnasium in the FHSAA Rural-Region 3 Final, it was Lachelle’s turn to celebrate as coach in the Bucs’ 24-26, 25-21, 25-14, 25-14 victory against visiting Union County (Lake Butler).
“It is really hard to beat a team four times in one season,” said Branford coach Lachelle Sikes. “They’ve seen us. They’ve seen what we can bring. We’ve seen them, so we knew they were going to bring the best that they had, and we saw that tonight. They really came to play… but I’m so proud of the girls for the way they bounced back.”
Union County (21-9) had momentum early, thanks to a 9-0 run to take an early 11-3 lead, but Branford answered with a 9-0 run of its own to reclaim the lead at 12-11 on a cross-court kill in the back corner by eighth grader Lalyn Sikes, the younger sister of Lachelle.
“She played unbelievable,” Lachelle Sikes said. “I can’t help but think back to last year. She scored in the fifth set, I think it was like 17-15, she scored the last kill and then an ace to win the game. It’s hard being her coach over there on the sideline not to get too proud in the moment, but just watching her… she’s able to carry herself with such calmness.”
Trailing 23-16 late in the first set, the Tigers mounted a rally and got within two, 23-21, on a kill by senior Jailyn Simmons (team-high 19 kills, 3 blocks), forcing Branford to call a timeout.
A Bucs’ attack error, followed by a kill from Union County sophomore Morgan Smith (10 kills), tied the match at 23-all, but Branford answered with a kill by junior Kaleah Tucker for a 24-23 lead.
However, a kill by Union County junior Mallory Waugh was sandwiched around a pair of kills by Smith for a 26-24 victory and a 1-0 lead.
“She (Smith) played really great,” said Union County coach Tifani Knox, who has taken the Tigers to three straight regional finals. “She stepped up, and she was ready to help us whenever we needed it. Jailyn (Simmons) also. We practiced a lot of different things with her, hitting the ball to different areas, and I felt like she really executed that tonight.”
The second set was tied eight times, the final time at 19-apiece on an attack error by the Bucs, but Branford got a block by senior Adriauna Combs, which sparked a 4-0 run to pull away late.
“I thought that we played at points well enough to beat them. Obviously, we won the first set, we just couldn’t stay consistent, so that was a struggle for us,” Knox said. “They have some big hitters, and so that’s what got us in the end.”
After Branford won the second set, 25-21, the momentum shifted back to the orange and blue.
A 7-0 run, highlighted by a pair of kills by Lalyn Sikes and Combs, turned a 6-5 deficit into a 12-6 lead, and they never trailed again. The Bucs pulled away for a 25-14 victory and a 2-1 lead.
The fourth set was tied six times early, including 7-all, but senior Mylie Fernandez keyed a 5-0 run with three aces for a 12-7 lead.
“Miley’s energy is infectious,” Lachelle Sikes said. “As our setter, we put so much on her. We put a really big role on her to be the person who holds our teammates accountable. So, if serve receive or defense has not given us what we need, we put that on her to stay on top of them.”
Tucker had seven kills during the fourth set to help the Bucs pull away.
In their final game in a Union County uniform, seniors Abby Williams and Bella Johns led the Tigers with 17 assists and 11 digs, respectively.
“I’m super proud of these girls, some of them I’ve coached since they were in sixth grade,” Knox said. “We’re a true rural team, so I’m super, super proud of them, and I’m proud to be their coach.”
Branford will likely play Williston in next Tuesday’s Rural state semifinals, as No. 1 seeds Chipley and defending state champion Liberty County (Bristol) punched their ticket too.
The No. 1 seed Red Devils, who were the lowest overall seed of the four who won on Tuesday, advanced to their first state semifinal since 2022 with a 25-18, 27-25, 23-25, 25-23 win against No. 2 seed Moore Haven in the Region 4 Final.
2025 FHSAA Volleyball Regional Finals
Area teams in bold
Tuesday, Oct. 28
Rural-Region 3
1 Branford 3, 3 Union County (Lake Butler) 1 – 24-26, 25-21, 25-14, 25-14
Rural-Region 4
1 Williston 3,2 Moore Haven 1 – 25-18, 27-25, 23-25, 25-23
Wednesday, Oct. 29
Class 4A-Region 2
2 Santa Fe (Alachua) at 1 Merritt Island, 7 p.m.
Class 5A-Region 2
4 Legacy (Port St. Lucie) at 2 Gainesville, 6 p.m.
