Mike Ridaught
For the first time in program history, the Branford volleyball team will play for a state title.
On Monday the top-seeded Bucs swept No. 4 seed Newberry 25-15, 25-17, 25-18 in the Class 1A state semifinals at Polk State College in Winter Haven to advance to Tuesday’s state championship match.
“This win was special,” said Branford coach Mendy Sikes. “It’s the first time in Branford history to ever make it to the championship game. We had a goal of actually making it here at the beginning of the year and they focused on one game at a time and now it’s time for them to finish their goal.”
The opening set was back-and-forth, with neither team building more than a three-point lead until late.
After Branford took a 12-9 lead, Newberry’s Sarah Watson had three big blocks at the net to tie the match at 12-12.
The Bucs (25-4) reclaimed the lead at 16-14 on consecutive kills by seniors Kennedy Walker and Jadyn Mosley.
“I think today they just played a little bit better,” Watson said. “We had a lot of errors and they didn’t have as many.”
Walker led all players with 15 kills.
“Kennedy is dominating,” Sikes said. “She knows when to kill it, when to tip it and her energy brings great leadership to the court.”
A kill by Newberry senior Hailey Tharp brought the Panthers within one at 16-15.
“I’m kind of dragging,” said Tharp, who was battling sickness since Friday but still managed to play. “I’m not really 100% but I came out for my team.”
However, Branford went on a 9-0 run to win the first set.
“One of the main keys was Erika Rioux’s serves, and placing the ball right where I told her to put it,” Sikes said. “Anytime you can hit a spot on the court you usually set yourself up for a great run and she was spot on every single time. Plus, everybody just playing their role, trusting one another and moving. It’s a team sport.”
Walker added an ace in the second set which helped spark a 6-0 run after Newberry had taken a quick 3-0 lead.
“I feel like I played pretty confident and humble,” Walker said. “The energy was high so it just made my confidence even higher when I scored a kill.”
Mosley added eight kills and 16 digs, including a block at the net with junior Madison Ward for the decisive point in the second set, which included a 4-0 run after the Panthers (15-15) had gotten within four at 21-17.
“Her serves are one of the main reasons that have carried us this far, even when we’ve been down,” Sikes said. “Usually she gets on a good six-point, seven-point run and it gets in their head. Today she struggled a little bit with the serving but she did not drop herself mentally, and communicated very, very well on the back row, and even when she noticed that when she was starting to hit it out more than normal she made transitions and did what she needed to do.”
Junior Malana Kennard led the Panthers with 24 digs, followed by senior Hanna Templeton with 16.
“Oh, my God it was unreal,” said Templeton, who found solace in the opportunity to play in the final four. “I am so grateful to be here, especially to go to state with this team. It’s just amazing.”
Branford, which swept Newberry in the previous two meetings this year, also used a pair of 6-0 runs in the third set, rallying from a 6-2 deficit early and then breaking an 8-8 tie.
“They just played a little better than us,” Templeton said. “They came out on top with us making more mistakes than we did and we were nervous going into the game. I’m sure everybody is. They were just playing faster than us.”
Following the second 6-0 run, Newberry never led again.
“You’ve got to give Branford their due,” said Newberry coach Hank Rone. “Branford was on fire. By beating Williston, that probably gave Mendy enough ammunition to say, ‘hey, they just upset Williston so you know what, they can play,’ and Mendy had them ready to play. That’s the worst they beat us all year.”
It was Newberry’s first state semifinal since finishing as state runners-up in 2020.
“I’m just super proud of these girls,” Rone said. “They have bought into everything we are at Newberry. They played their best volleyball at the end of the season. They never quit on me. This senior class can say they brought it back because they won the district and regional championships. There are only four teams out there that can say that they did that. Any time you can do that it’s a successful season.”
The Bucs will face No. 3 seed Baker, which defeated defending state champion Liberty County (Bristol) in the other semifinal, at 4 p.m. on Tuesday in the 1A state championship game.
Baker advanced with a 25-22, 26-24, 20-25, 25-23 win against Liberty County in the first semifinal, setting up state championship game appearance between two schools seeking their first state title.
“Oh, we’re ready,” Mosley said. “We watched them a little bit while we were trying to prepare ourselves, but we’re ready.”
Last spring marked the first time that the Branford softball team played in a state championship game.
Now, the volleyball team will get that opportunity on Tuesday.
“It’s a great feeling,” Walker said. “I’m just so happy to be here, and for this to be my last season, I’m so glad to go out this way.”