The first home playoff match in Destin High School history has ended with the first home playoff win in Destin High School history.
The Lady Sharks defeated Oak Hall 3-1 (25-16, 25-27, 25-21, 25-20).
“They’re trailblazers. Every time they touch a ball for this program from here on out, they make history. They play with passion, they play with urgency, and they play with joy,” Head Coach Dominic Fasula said.
Destin dominated throughout the first set. It opened on a strong 7-2 run behind solid play from Kenzi Prosser, who piled up four kills early on. Oak Hall battled back into the set, but Prosser stayed steady and Kaylee Kaiser was a wall as Destin won 25-16.
Oak Hall came out hot in the second set behind blocks from Paige Sherrod and Nicolette Aulisilo. Destin kept it close throughout, but Oak Hall maintained the advantage as Sherrod and Kaitlin Allen took over the set, and the Lady Eagles won 27-25.
- “We kind of lost a little bit of discipline in the second set, gave up too many points, had to recalibrate in the third set. Happy to see they were able to make the adjustments between sets,” Fasula said.
The third set opened tight, with Prosser and Allen going kill for kill, and it stayed tight throughout. This time, the Lady Sharks regrouped as Isabella Volpe and Haley Mikel took over the set alongside Prosser, and Destin won 25-21.
Destin carried that momentum into the fourth set, with Volpe and Victoria Silva each getting kills to open it, along with a block from Angel Wilson. Two blocks from Kendylle Bishop got Oak Hall back in the set, but as had been the case all day, Prosser took over. Volpe went on a tear down the stretch as Destin won 25-20 to claim the historic milestone.
“She still has that heavy hand. When she swings, she plays with progression,” Fasula said.
Volpe credited the team’s effort.
“Our whole team came together and did our own job. Neilya got good serves in. I wouldn’t be able to do my job if Neilya didn’t do hers,” Volpe said.
The Lady Sharks are now Sweet 16 bound. They will face Trinity Catholic on the road Saturday. Trinity Catholic advanced by sweeping Trinity Prep 3-0.
“We’re going to have to punch above our weight class. That is a very tough group. We’re going to do our homework on them,” Fasula said.
