Entering Tuesday’s FHSAA Rural state semifinal at Polk State College in Winter Haven, the Williston volleyball team was playing in its third final four appearance all-time.
Branford was seeking its third straight title game appearance.
The No. 1-ranked Bucs (23-4) made quick work of the Red Devils (11-11) with a 25-15, 25-11, 25-13 sweep to advance to Wednesday’s state championship game.
They will face No. 2 Chipley (24-6) at 4 p.m. on Wednesday for the Rural state title. The Tigers defeated defending state champion Liberty County (Bristol) 25-14, 21-25, 22-25, 25-17, 15-10 in the other state semifinal.
Branford used fast starts in each game to set the tone.
“I told them going into it that physically and skill wise, they were more than prepared,” said first-year coach Lachelle Sikes, who is the daughter of former head coach and current assistant coach Mendy Sikes. “We knew that when they played together 100% that they have the skill to dominate just about any team in our area, but it was going to be more of a mental game, making sure that we’re able to shake off errors and knowing that the other team is going to score points, they’re going to make plays happen, but making sure we bounce back from that and they can’t score five or six points in a row.”
Mission accomplished, as the most points scored at one time by the Red Devils was four in the opening set.
Branford took an early 5-1 lead in the opening set and after Williston closed within one, 8-7, the Bucs went on a 6-0 run to take a 14-7 lead following consecutive kills by Adriauna Combs.
The senior MB/OH had a game-high nine kills.
“She’s just a very dominant player,” Lachelle Sikes said. “I think today, honestly, as the score was, I don’t think we ran our offense as much as we typically do. I think our passes struggled just a little bit today, so we weren’t able to get all of our offense fully incorporated, but I think she does a great job of when she does get that opportunity, she’s going to take it and she’s not going to waste that good pass.”
Williston went on a 4-0 run, highlighted by a kill by senior Whitlea Woodford, to close within four at 17-13.
However, Branford closed the set on a 5-0 run with bookend kills by junior Anabella Dicks (7 kills, 14 digs) to win by double digits.
The Bucs opened with a 3-0 lead in the second set and following a kill by Williston sophomore Estella Fugate, they quickly opened up a double-digit lead.
Bookend kills by senior Mallory Blue (5 kills) extended it to an 11-1 lead and the Red Devils never recovered in a 25-11 loss in the second set.
It was more of the same in the third set as Branford opened with a 6-1 lead and Williston could only get as close as four the rest of the way.
Eighth grader Lalyn Sikes, the sister of head coach Lachelle Sikes (9 digs), twice gave the Bucs a double-digit lead at 21-11 and 22-12 with two of her seven kills.
Senior Mylie Fernandez (4 kills, 2 aces, 11 digs), junior Kaleah Tucker (4 kills), and sophomore Ava Alcorn (12 digs) also helped lead the Bucs, who won their eighth straight game.
Senior Madison Perkins led the Red Devils with 5 kills, along with 5 digs, senior Berkley Brooks had 15 digs and 4 kills, and senior Amelia Smith had 4 digs.