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Branford swept Union County on Thursday night to win the District 6-1A title. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)
BRANFORD — Kennedy Walker admits revenge was on her mind.
It was just one year ago that Union County beat Branford in four sets to win a district title. But just like they did twice already this season, the Buccaneers returned the favor by sweeping the Tigers for a third time in their quest for redemption.
Behind 15 kills from Kennedy Walker and 11 from Madison Ward, top-seeded Branford rolled through No. 2 seed Union County 25-15, 25-19, 25-18 to win the District 6-1A championship at home Thursday night. It locked up an inevitable playoff berth for the Buccaneers, who won their 11th straight match and haven’t lost in a month.
“This was an amazing feeling,” Walker said. “I feel like we should have had that title last year, and this year we’ve just put in the work to win. It was an amazing feeling to win it this year.”
Union County was Branford’s kryptonite a year ago. Not only did the Buccaneers (22-4) lose to the Tigers (11-12) in last season’s district championship, but they also had their season ended by them in the regional semifinals, dropping both matches in four sets.
Now Branford has gotten payback, in dominating fashion no less.
“We were ready to have another chance against Union,” Branford head coach Mendy Sikes said. “Our goal is one game at time and their first goal was to win a district championship because they kind felt like they got the short hand last year. They’ve worked really, really hard. One goal is down and now it’s on to regionals.”
Walker also had four aces in the win, all coming in a rally during the third set. After the Tigers took a 10-6 lead, the Buccaneers rattled off a 14-0 run with Walker serving. Ward also had a pair of kills during the stretch and four total in the final frame.
And even when Union County pulled back within 23-18, setter Andi Sabourin and Walker finished the win off with kills for two of the final three points.
Sabourin led the Bucs with 30 assists and Walker also had a team-high 18 digs defensively.
“We were just playing very, very sloppy,” Sikes said. “We let a couple of calls kind of shake us up a little bit and we had to shake it off. Mentally, this year, we’ve been strong. We’ve been behind many, many times and they don’t get too upset. As long as we can come back in, regroup, take a deep breath and go back out, they’re ready for it.”
Branford was behind early in all three sets but never wavered. Ward had six kills in the first frame to help the Buccaneers overcome a quick 6-4 deficit, and it was then Walker with seven kills in the second to help her team rally back after trailing 6-4 again and later 12-11.
“We know that we can always fight back,” Walker said. “We know if we can trust each other we can get back up.”
Walker and Ward had plenty of other help offensively as well. Jadyn Mosley and Annabella Dicks each added three kills, while Sabourin finished with a pair.
Mosley also had 12 digs defensively and Kayley Johnson had 10.
“This year this group is very dominant all the way across the net, and there’s also a lot more confidence amongst each other,” Sikes said. “They play so well together. They’ve played for so long together that they kind of know what each other is going to do.”
The Buccaneers have had a stranglehold on the No. 1 seed in Region 3-1A all season, entering districts with a 13.767 rating, and they’ll be slotted there when the FHSAA releases the official playoff brackets. No team in the region entering districts had a higher rating than Union County’s 4.232.
In fact, Branford has the second highest rating in all of Class 1A. Only Bountstown is higher at 15.646, meaning the Buccaneers aren’t just a playoff contender but also a state title contender.
“I feel like if we play our game, just like we did tonight, we can go very far,” Walker said.