BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
It was every bit the battle you’d expect from the top two teams in the conference, with each set determined by a three-point margin.
In the end, it was host Bradford putting the finishing touches on a perfect season in a 2-1 (25-22, 22-25, 15-12) win over Lake Butler in the Suwannee Middle School Athletic Conference volleyball championship match on Oct. 19.
Belinda Phillips, who co-coaches BMS with Kendra Griffin, said, “It was nerve-wracking. Both teams played great.”
The Tornadoes (12-0) rejoined the SMAC this year, putting an end to Lake Butler’s string of championships. The Tigers (16-4) were attempting to win their fifth straight SMAC title.
“We beat them twice (in the regular season), and you always know it’s hard to beat a team the third time,” Phillips said, “but we pulled it out. I’m so proud of the girls.”
Lake Butler Head Coach Robbie Best said his team put forth a championship-type effort.
“We played some of the best ball we’ve ever played tonight,” Best said. “We had a few errors that cost us along the way, but the girls played with heart. They hustled all over the court. They showed compassion for the game. They made adjustments when we needed them to, which kept us in the game.
“Unfortunately, at the end of the match, we came up just short. We have to congratulate Bradford. They had a great season. They played a tremendous game tonight. They were definitely a worthy opponent. They’re well-coached. We look forward to playing them again.”
Lake Butler scored 10 of the first 14 points of the first set — a span that included service aces by Courtney Manning and Morgan Smith and a kill by Smith.
Two aces by the Tornadoes’ Tatum Burkhalter helped Bradford rally and make it a two-point game. Another ace by Manduo Wei helped Bradford stay within two points, but Lake Butler — with the help of three straight points with Ella Griffis serving — was able to build an 18-12 lead.
Autumn DeKorver had two aces for Bradford to cut into the Tigers’ lead. A kill by Wynter Barrington later forced a side-out and pulled the Tornadoes to within 19-16. Two straight points with Katherine Brugh serving helped Bradford make it a one-point game.
Burkhalter had a serve that just cleared the top of the net for an ace that put the Tornadoes ahead 21-20. The Tigers forced side-out to tie it, but a block by Barrington moved Bradford ahead again.
Bradford closed out the set with Kingslee Phillips serving. After a Lake Butler attack error, Phillips served up an ace for the winning point.
The second set was tied at 11-11 when the Tigers scored five straight points with Bethany Phillips serving. Three of those points came off Smith kills.
An ace by Manning later in the set put Lake Butler ahead 18-12, while a kill by Smith made it 20-13.
With DeKorver serving, Bradford scored four straight points to make it 21-19. DeKorver had two aces, while a free ball sent over by Burkhalter fell to the court for another point. The Tigers’ Phillips had a kill off a Manning assist to force side-out and put Lake Butler ahead 22-19.
A Barrington kill off a Kingslee Phillips assist helped Bradford make it a 23-22 game, but after side-out, the Tigers scored the winning point off a Hayden Robinson ace.
The Tornadoes scored the first three points of the third set, getting an ace from Phillips and a kill by DeKorver.
Barrington and Burkhalter each had a kill to help Bradford maintain its lead. The Tornadoes then scored three points with Brugh serving to go up 10-4. Brugh had an ace during that stretch, which also included a kill by Barrington.
It was 11-8 in favor of Bradford when the Tigers scored three points with Robinson serving. One point was off an ace.
Bradford led 12-10 before adding another two points with Wei serving, getting a kill by DeKorver off a Phillips assist.
Lake Butler’s Manning later recorded an ace to make it a 14-12 game before an error resulted in the Tornadoes’ match-winning point.
Belinda Phillips said she knew this year’s team could have a special season.
“There’s a lot of talent,” she said. “I’ve grown up with these girls, with my daughter (Kingslee) being on the team. I knew that they had the talent to win.”
Talent is a big part of the equation, but so, too, is team chemistry, which was never an issue this season.
“These girls have a great relationship with each other,” Phillips said, adding, “They’re friends. They’re family. I can honestly say that this year we have had zero drama with this team. I think that’s huge. If you all get along, and you play as a family, then you’re going to do great things.”
Phillips believes this isn’t the end of great things for this group of players, who will all be Bradford High School freshmen next year.
“I can’t wait to see them grow and to one day be seniors, playing for the championship at state,” Phillips said.
Though the Tigers came up short of claiming the trophy, Best said the season was one in which his team played to the best of its ability, maintaining the legacy of high-level play that has come to be expected from a program that had won five championships in six years.
“That’s not a given,” Best said of winning a title. “Every season’s different. Every team is different. You have to find those qualities — those strengths that are going to facilitate a winning season. We did that. We found those qualities.”
Best gave kudos to Assistant Coach Angela Griffis for being a vital part of the Tigers’ success, which he believes will continue and lead to another year of being in the mix for the SMAC championship.
“We’ll be back,” Best said.
