Serving up history

EAST MANATEE — Moments after making school history, the members of Braden River’s volleyball team came together for a fan wielding a video camera.

In unison, they spoke the words no team in school history had ever said before.

“Regional finals”!

Thanks to Tuesday’s 3-1 win over St. Petersburg Lakewood in a Class 4A-Region 3 semifinal, that’s where the Pirates are going — for the first time.

Ever.

“History,” said first-year coach Steve Haugh. “It’s the first time in school history we got here.”

They’ll be there 2 p.m. Saturday when the Pirates (23-6) host Fort Myers (29-4) for the Region 3 championship as well as a trip to the Class 4A final four, which begins Friday, Nov. 20 at The Lakeland Center.

“We’re still riding that high,” said senior setter Regina Aluise, who had 51 assists Tuesday. “Everyone’s pumped up, especially because it’s at home.

“Right now, everyone is overwhelmed with excitement.”

Braden River scored the historic win the same way it scored the others — playing relatively mistake-free volleyball and getting their hands on a number of Lakewood serves. That was enough to neutralize the Spartans and their star player, Berkley Whaley, a sophomore who has already caught the eye of Florida.

It was the third time this season the Pirates beat the Spartans — both teams competed in Class 4A-District 10 — even though Lakewood took the first game in all three matches.

“Because we are small, we really focus on passing and moving and playing smart,” Aluise said. “We aren’t the tallest team in the gym, so we need to be (smarter). We can’t go up and just wail at balls.”

Not that the Pirates didn’t hit. Braden River won 21-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-22 on the strength of their outside hitting, namely Brittany Jaco (17 kills) and Lauren Powell (13 kills), both of whom helped Braden River rebound after dropping Game 1.

“We looked a little nervous,” Haugh said. “After we lost, we went into the huddle and said, ‘You know, history will repeat itself. We’re going to win this match because we know we’re the better team, and if we stay up, stay focused and keep working as hard as you can.’ And they did.”

Kaleigh Jaco had nine kills and Allison Martin added eight for the Pirates.

Now it’s on to the regional final.

“Really excited,” Aluise said. “It hasn’t hit yet, though.”