'Pressure makes diamonds': Gulf Breeze volleyball claims sixth consecutive district title

A lot has happened since 2019.

But there’s been one constant: the Gulf Breeze volleyball team’s stronghold in its district.

The Dolphins claimed their sixth consecutive district championship, beating Niceville, 3-1, on Thursday. Set scores were 25-18, 21-25, 25-18 and 25-21, in favor of Gulf Breeze.

It’s the first time since 2017 that Gulf Breeze and Niceville have been in the district championship together, and the Dolphins got their long-awaited revenge.

Gulf Breeze and Niceville haven’t been in the same district since 2018, whether it was a difference of class size or different district – the Eagles spent the last few years in District 2 at the 6A level, while Gulf Breeze remained in District 1.

It’s sort of a full-circle moment for Gulf Breeze head coach Jasmine King, who started her head coach tenure in 2016.

“I was talking to Niceville’s coach about that. My first couple years, they were in our district and we had to battle them out,” King said. “It’s been a few years since we’ve had to see them in the district championship. Definitely full circle.”

Though district titles have been aplenty the last handful of years for the Dolphins, this one just seemed a little different. Longtime assistant coach Steven Clay said this season’s title was probably “one of the tougher ones” Gulf Breeze has had.

Niceville was one of just two teams all season long to steal at least one set in a match from Gulf Breeze, though the Dolphins still won 2-1 on Oct. 5. Thursday was no different, with the Eagles claiming the second set in a back-and-forth matchup.

“Niceville is extremely talented. We knew this was going to be one of the toughest opponents we’ve had in a district final,” Clay said. “In all of the six, I bet you this was one of the toughest opponents in a district final.”

Because Niceville had previously won a set over Gulf Breeze, it wasn’t unchartered territory for the Dolphins, although it has been rare. Gulf Breeze, with the exception of a 3-1 loss at Chiles in September – the No. 9 team in the state – was nearly perfect on the year, posting 25 sweeps.

King said the message entering the third set was simple: “This is how winners respond.”

“We knew it wasn’t going to be a three-set win or loss. We knew we were going to be battling. We were still playing good volleyball, we just couldn’t get it at the end,” King said. “Winners respond by dropping a set, and then coming back by going 150 miles per hour.”

And respond the Dolphins did.

Gulf Breeze took a commanding 7-0 lead to start the third set, thanks to a pair of aces during the run from Allie Hepworth. While the Dolphins went up by 11 at one point, Niceville kept trying to claw back.

A strong attack from Sydney Sutter throughout the set – including a kill for the set-winning point – put the Dolphins on top, 25-18, heading into what was ultimately the match-winning fourth set. That was more or less the same, with the Dolphins taking a strong lead and holding onto it at the end.

“They had this relentless pursuit of the ball. They had this sense of urgency,” King said of her team in the third and fourth sets. “They had a chip on their shoulder, and the players didn’t want to give Niceville any hope.”

Gulf Breeze (25-1) enters the regional tournament as the top-seeded team not only in Region 1-6A, but the top team in the classification. The Dolphins will learn their opponent over the weekend during the FHSAA’s selection show on Sunday once all district tournaments have concluded.

Though, without any doubt, Gulf Breeze will be hosting at least the first two rounds as the top seed if the Dolphins keep winning.

“Now that we’re in regionals, it’s win or go home. That carries a little added layer of pressure, but these girls know that pressure makes diamonds,” King said. “They know what’s coming. I’m excited for them and proud of them.”

“The six is nice. But, what’s most important, is we got this one. The girls worked so hard. They deserve this,” Clay said. “I am certain the only team that can beat this team is themselves. I’m confident that if they play their best, this team will be very difficult to beat.”

Can you dig it? Sarah Frazee sure can

There were several rallies where it looked like Niceville was inches away from earning a point.

But no so fast.

Gulf Breeze libero Sarah Frazee, a couple times, came diving in for a pancake save – laying her hand on the floor with an outstretched arm, saving the ball from hitting the floor and finding a teammate for a pass.

Frazee was flying around the back row, recording numerous digs on powerful attacks from Niceville. She was also able to control a lot of those attacks, and give her teammates plenty of time to set up their own offense – usually leading to a point.

“Sarah just makes it look so easy. She is so determined to not let a ball hit our floor,” King said. “We talked the other day, that unfortunately, with the nature of those positions – those defensive specialists and liberos – they’re not the point-scorers, so they don’t necessarily get the praise. But as a team, our hitters know that as soon as they get a big kill, they know the common factor was from our back row.”

The Dolphins also had good reactions around the net, especially when Niceville connected on a block. Two or three players were usually there for the dig – even if it resulted in scrambling around.

“It’s just those fast-twitch muscles. Volleyball is a game of errors. It’s a fast game. Niceville, being such a strong team, they have hitters that pound the ball relentlessly,” King said. “We knew we had to be patient and aggressive.”

“Whenever you hear people yelling and it’s loud, it encourages you to do your best. … It makes you want to go all-out,” Frazee said. “Whenever the gym is full, we feed off that energy. It’s exciting. … The gym is so loud and everything’s rattling.”

‘We have a lot of tools in our toolbox’

If you haven’t heard of Bella Satterwhite, you apparently haven’t been watching Gulf Breeze volleyball for the last four years. Satterwhite, just a few weeks ago, achieved 1,000 kills in her high school career – the first-ever Dolphin to do so, along with breaking King’s – a Gulf Breeze alum – record.

Against top talent, defenses are going to plan for Satterwhite’s attack. That goes without saying.

“When we play strong teams, they’re going to make adjustments. They’re expecting the ball to go to Bella,” said King, who previously said Satterwhite is able to lay down a kill effectively from the front and back row. “We’ve got to be ready for anything and anticipate it. But, also, we have to know how to adjust. We have a lot of tools in our toolbox, and tonight we got to utilize them.”

Outside of Satterwhite, Sydney Sutter, Sienna Wnetrzak, Estelle Reese, Izzy Beech and Lexi Pannunzio had successful in the front row, finding plenty of open room on the opposite side of the court.

And that helps out players like Allie Hepworth and Frazee, able to pass it wherever needed.

“One thing about our team, unlike the other years, is we have so much depth. We can count on all 14 girls,” Satterwhite said. “We have so much trust in one another. It was a great win with everyone.”

“I have so much reassurance and faith in this team,” Frazee said. “Whoever the ball is going to, I have faith they’re going to put it down.”

Clay added that the team works “relentlessly” on its attack, and that includes serving. The Dolphins reached double-digit aces, while also getting several serve-receives from Niceville directly back over the net, putting Gulf Breeze right back on offense.

“I told the girls before the game, ‘We’re going to win this game because we’re better servers and passers,’” Clay said. “What you work hard at, you get good at – and we work relentlessly at it.”

A special district title – but now they want more

Starting with Gulf Breeze’s sophomore class on the 2019 roster, every player to play a full three (or in Satterwhite’s case, four) years with the Dolphins haven’t lost a district championship.

That feat, in and of itself, is impressive.

That means, now, the classes of 2022-25 have never known what it’s like to fall in districts.

“It just shows the program’s excellence that we have, from our freshman team to JV to varsity. It’s awesome. For Bella, she’s been on varsity for four years,” King said. “Then others like Sarah and others who are seniors, it’s nice.”

But, for the last six years, all those players have experienced the same exact heartbreak: a loss in the regional playoffs. From 2019-2021, the Dolphins fell consecutively in the region semifinals. In 2022, Gulf Breeze got over that hump and made it to the region finals, but fell to New Smyrna Beach, which ultimately won the state championship.

Last season, the Dolphins fell to the hands of Ponte Vedra.

Satterwhite and Frazee both believe this team feels different – perhaps able to take it further.

“This team, I feel like we have a legitimate shot at going to state. There’s always that one regional semifinal game that has been going on for awhile that we cannot get past,” Satterwhite said. “This year, I feel like it’s the year. The depth is insane from defense to offense, serving to passing. It’s unlike any other team I’ve been on.”

But, for now, the Dolphins will take the time to celebrate the win. Including Frazee and Satterwhite – who have been friends since “day one,” and they get to go out on top in the district once again.

“Bella was one of my first friends when I moved here a couple years ago. We’ve always played volleyball together,” Frazee said. “Since it’s our senior year, this district championship means a lot since it’s the last one.”

“Sarah, she’s been with me since day one. She’s my girl. She is so fiery. She gets everyone mad on the court, and it’s exactly what we need. She’s a great leader. I couldn’t be more grateful to be a captain with her,” Satterwhite said. “We have this chemistry on the court. We trust each other. I could be totally blind, and we could pass the ball to each other. We look at each other at points of stress, and we find a solution. I haven’t had another bond like that – I’m super grateful for her.”

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: 'Pressure makes diamonds': Gulf Breeze volleyball claims sixth consecutive district title