This was a Navarre team doubted when the season began. A team not expected to do much based on some of the players it lost, be it through graduation or the unofficial high school transfer portal.
Yet here the Raiders were on a Friday night in late October, on the road against a tough Pace team, proving people wrong again.
Senior setter Julia Irmen stretched out her arm in an effort to keep the ball in play during Thursday’s District 1-6A final against rival Gulf Breeze.
She just missed on getting her hand on the ball as it fell to the floor and led to another point late in the third set against the Dolphins.
Call it the game of the year. At least up to this point in the season.
The Navarre Raiders take on Pace Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in Pace and the winner is in a position to be crowned District 1-4S champions.
Before this year, Navarre’s Hayden Weber didn’t have to worry about swimming while battling the elements.
He’s from Indiana and swim season takes place indoors. Here in Florida, most meets take place outside.
Tyler England was in practice earlier this season with the Huntingdon Hawks when the reality hit the finish line of a career in a sport that has been such a big part of his life is in sight.
“It was a Monday practice, and I was sitting there thinking ‘dang, this is over in however many weeks,’” England said. “The first couple of games it didn’t really hit me. It’s starting to set in.”
Pace and Navarre are right next to each other in the FHSAA regional rankings this week, adding extra incentive and fuel to the fire for Friday’s matchup between the two schools in Pace.
Kyalie McCann has a different degree of motivation this year. Part of that stems from being a senior at Navarre.
“I feel like I’m pushing more to make the best of the season,” McCann said.
Navarre head volleyball coach Ryan Davenport hunched over in a huddle late in Tuesday’s wild District 1-6A semifinal against Pace.
His body language said it all. This match had taken a lot out of him as he watched his Raiders will their way back from a two-game deficit to put themselves on the brink of a remarkable comeback win.
