On Saturday, Niceville checked every box of a Class 5A state title contender. Star power? Check. Resilience? Check. Grit? Check.
- The Lady Eagles showed all of it in a five-set win over a Gainesville team that had just stunned two-time defending state champion Chiles, taking the match 25-18, 21-25, 25-19, 20-25, 15-8.
“Just really proud of the girls. It’s a journey, and I’m really proud of them and what we’re doing,” Head Coach Karson Jessup said.
Gainesville opened the first set on a 4-0 run, but two kills from Riley Skowronski and a Gainesville ball that went out got Niceville back in it. After a Niceville error, kills from Abby Sweirzben and Aprille Trotter tied the set, though Gainesville soon retook the lead.
The Lady Purple Hurricanes put together a strong run before a kill from Shelby Plaiser stopped the bleeding, and Skowronski, Kate Jannazo and Anna Sutter took over from there. Jannazo finished the set with four kills and a block, and Sutter and Skowronski each added two kills as Niceville took the first set 25-18.
The second set began in similar fashion. A Niceville ball went out and a kill from Whitney Kinsell put Gainesville up 2-0. Skowronski and Jacey Carter-Mitchell traded kills to make it 3-1 Gainesville before a Sweirzben kill sparked a 4-0 Niceville run.
Jacey Carter-Mitchell answered with a block, but Sutter and Jannazo led a 3-0 Niceville run. Gainesville retook the lead after a series of points went its way, but a Jannazo kill followed by a block from Katherine Newkirk halted the momentum. A kill from Kenzie Carter-Mitchell then sparked a 5-0 Gainesville run.
- A Jannazo kill started a 3-0 Niceville run after that, but Gainesville outscored Niceville 5-3 down the stretch to take the second set 25-20.
The third set belonged to Niceville. After the teams traded points to open the set, the Lady Eagles went on a 5-0 run. Gainesville picked up points on a Niceville error and a Jacey Carter-Mitchell kill soon afterward, but Niceville answered with an 8-2 run behind three kills from Carnley Summerlin.
Jacey Carter-Mitchell and Jorryn Dye added more points for Gainesville, but it proved to be not enough. Errors piled up for the Lady Purple Hurricanes, and Summerlin was too much to handle as Niceville won the third set 25-13.
The fourth set again opened tight before a Plaiser kill sparked a 6-1 Niceville run that gave the Lady Eagles the advantage. Gainesville responded with a 7-2 run, sparked by a Dye kill, to move back in front.
Jannazo and Skowronski each came up with blocks, but Gainesville took control of the set from there. A Jannazo kill and a few Gainesville errors pulled Niceville within striking distance, but Gainesville closed on a 3-0 run to win 25-21 and force a crucial fifth set.
The fifth set started tight as well, with the score tied at multiple points. Summerlin and Jannazo eventually proved too much for Gainesville, as Niceville outscored the Lady Purple Hurricanes 8-2 down the stretch. Summerlin finished it off herself with two decisive kills to seal the 15-9 win.
“I’m going to miss her when she graduates. She is a key part of this team’s success. She makes people better around her. She is fantastic as usual,” Jessup said of Summerlin.
“I just wanted to do so good for my team. I wanted it all for us,” Summerlin said.
“She does not like losing. She loves to win, and she pushed and helped us win,” Jannazo said.
Now, the Lady Eagles find themselves making history. Niceville is in the Elite Eight for the first time since 2020 and is on the doorstep of its first Final Four since 2010.
“It’s just amazing. This team has brought so much joy to my life,” Summerlin said.
“I’m really excited. I’ve never really experienced something like this. Since middle school, it’s just you go to county and you’re over, so I’m so proud of us and I think we can make it all the way,” Jannazo said.
With Middleburg’s 3-1 upset win over Ponte Vedra, Niceville will host the Lady Broncos at The Nest on Wednesday night.
“I am excited. I know Middleburg’s going to be tough, but I’m excited to see what our girls can do,” Jessup said.
“So excited and happy we don’t have to travel, and if we can get everyone in Niceville to come,” Jannazo said.
“I’m so excited. I hope everybody comes and supports us,” Summerlin said.
