FALL ALL-AREA: Branford's Kennedy Walker named LCR's Volleyball Player of the Year

BRANFORD — Kennedy Walker is nothing if not mindful. Branford’s outside hitter proved that throughout her career. Even in the midst of transferring schools and leading her team to regional and district championships, Walker kept her eye on the ultimate prize.

Through it all, Walker did more than keep her wits. She led, displaying a low-key and quiet leadership style that helped her school all the way to its first state title game appearance.

And through all of that, Walker said she never once felt a moment of adversity to overcome.

Her efforts also earned her an additional title as the Lake City Reporter’s Volleyball Player of the Year. It’s an honor that may not have been bestowed had she not exhibited her ability to connect with people early on in her stint at Branford.

“It was definitely nerve-wracking at first,” Walker said. “But (Branford) coach (Mendy) Sikes and the team, they were very welcoming and made me feel at home. It was actually a really easy transition.”

Walker did it all for the Bucs in her second season with the team. She led the area with 289 kills — an area-best 3.3 per set — while also topping her team with 356 digs and contributing 32 aces and 17 blocks.

But according to Sikes, Walker shines brightest when displaying the intangibles she possesses around her teammates.

“Kennedy’s best way of developing respect from her team, as far as a leader, was just by example,” Sikes said. “She was never really a true outspoken (leader) until she knew she needed to be. She would just go harder, push them to go faster. She was more of an encourager.”

Walker’s high school journey to this moment began in Mayo. It was also under very different circumstances, with Lafayette willing to use Walker more as a set-up player. She racked up 238 assists over the course of her sophomore season, finishing with just 118 kills in 16 fewer sets played than her senior year at Branford.

That season culminated with a 3-2 loss to the Bucs in the district finals, a match in which Walker had to be helped off the court with an injured left knee after scoring on a block to give the Hornets a 9-7 advantage. Walker’s absence, which came in the middle of the fifth and deciding set, allowed the Bucs to rally to win seven of the next 10 points and the match.

“I think (Walker) leaving was a mental perk for our team, she gave us a fit all match,” Sikes said after that meeting in 2021.

Fast forward a few months from then. Walker made the decision that would change the trajectory of her high school career, transferring to the school that beat her in the district finals and changing its fortunes as well. It was a move that even caught the Bucs coach off guard.

“Actually, I did not know she was coming to Branford until she was already registered at Branford,” Sikes said. “She registered, and then they contacted me concerning try-outs. That’s when I knew she was coming.

“As far as her first visits, I was completely impressed with her, with the fact that she worked really, really hard to get to know every single player on the team. She switched warmup partners every day. Just worked really, really hard to try and build a relationship with everyone on the team.”

For her part, Walker doesn’t like discussing the particulars of her exit from Lafayette.

“It was a personal decision,” Walker said.

Turns out, the decision to transfer benefitted both Walker and the Bucs, though it’d take a year before the real fruit began to blossom. The Bucs powered their way to a regional semifinals appearance before losing a heartbreaking 3-1 decision to Union County.

Sikes admits Walker wasn’t quite the leader she could’ve been during that first season.

“Her first year, she was not as vocal,” Sikes said. “I think that would be very hard, coming in as a transfer.”

The transfer to Branford didn’t come without its hiccups. Having played on the right side of formations throughout her life, Sikes swapped Walker to outside hitter.

“So there’s a little bit of a transition there,” Sikes said. “The development of learning that versatility makes you a better player and doing what’s best for the team. I think it was just really finding where their fit was and where they could be the most successful.”

The full benefit of Walker’s presence was felt her senior year. It included separate winning streaks of 11 and 14 games, including an opportunity at revenge against Union in the regional final.

Walker took full advantage of the opportunity. She posted a career-high 23 kills in a four-set win in which the Branford defense held the Tigers to just 18 combined points through the first two sets before hanging on to win 25-22 in the fourth.

“We’d played Union before several times, so knowing their defense really helped a lot,” Walker said of that match. “Knowing how they move and how they work. We felt confident being at home and in our gym with the environment and our team.”

Walker topped that performance with more well-rounded play in the state semifinal against Newberry, racking up 15 kills to go with 21 digs in Branford’s 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-18) sweep. The win also marked the last of the Bucs’ 14-game win streak and polished off a season in which the team never had to face a fifth set.

Of course, Branford’s and Walker’s seasons came to an end the next day in a thrilling 3-1 (21-25, 25-15, 25-23, 28-26) loss to Baker. It also meant the end to a routine she’s fallen into the last two years of greeting her teammates bright and early at practices, with Sikes saying she was one of the first to enter and the last to leave in the process of perfecting her craft.

“Truly, there was never a time of doubt with (her ability),” Sikes said. “Honestly, it was a blast to be her coach. I’ve learned a lot from her. Her personality is something that is a little bit different than others that I’ve coached with the fact that she’s so quiet. But her work ethic, her attitude, her love for the game, it’s just a lot of fun to coach her.”

ALL-AREA TEAM

OH: Kennedy Walker

Branford, senior

Led the area with 289 kills — an area-best 3.3 per set — to help the state runner-up Buccaneers reach the Class 1A state championship game for the first time in program history. Also led BHS with 356 digs while adding 32 aces and 17 blocks.

OH: Jadyn Mosley

Branford, senior

Led the Buccaneers with 63 aces to go with 238 kills and 308 digs, which were both second most on the team.

OH: Rachel Smith

Suwannee, senior

Did it all for the Bulldogs, leading them with 215 kills and 344 digs. Also served up 38 aces and had 23 blocks, which were both second most on the team.

OH/MH: Sinei Wood

Columbia, sophomore

Led the area with 411 digs and 66 blocks for the 16-9 Tigers, who made the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Also tied for a team-high 210 kills to go with 49 aces.

OH/RS: Autumn Jones

Columbia, senior

Tied for a team-most 210 kills and her 284 digs were second most on the Tigers. Also served up 36 aces.

S: Andi Sabourin

Branford, junior

Led the area with a total of 796 assists. Also had 291 digs and served up 20 aces.

S: Mylie Fernandez

Columbia, sophomore

Led the Tigers with 732 assists, averaging an area-best 9.4 per set. Also had 215 digs and 40 aces.

L: Erika Rioux

Branford, sophomore

The area’s top libero was second on the Buccaneers with 48 aces and third with 303 digs. Also added 65 assists.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Mendy Sikes, Branford

Led the Buccaneers to a program-best 25-5 record, the District 6-1A title, the Region 3-1A title and their second trip to the state Final Four in the last four seasons. They swept Newberry in the Class 1A state semifinals to reach to state championship for the first time ever, where they lost to Baker in four sets. It capped a year where Branford only lost 16 sets the entire season and went 6-0 against Columbia, Suwannee and Lafayette.

HONORABLE MENTION: Branford: Madison Ward, Kayley Johnson, Anabella Dicks; Columbia: Cassidy O’Neal, Avery Sandlin; Suwannee: Jordyn Chandler, Paula Golub; Lafayette: Brooke Lamb