Defense powers Leon past Niceville in 5A
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Defense powers Leon past Niceville in 5A
That's why, of course, the Big Bend's best volleyball team is still cruising in the Class 5A playoffs.
Leon High rolled to a 25-14, 25-21, 25-11 victory over visiting Niceville on Tuesday night, thanks in large part to a defensive effort that never let the Eagles get going. The victory pushes the Lions (27-2) to the Region 1-5A final Saturday night at Gainesville Eastside.
Leon coach Joy Becker spent most of the night applauding her team's defensive effort. And she had plenty of reasons to cheer.
"I think the team defense went up and that picked everybody up," Becker said. "When the defense starts picking up balls you get so excited on offense that you jump three inches higher. When you see your teammate running into chairs or bleachers, that adrenaline is flowing so much that you put balls where you've never put balls before. It's an amazing thing to watch."
Becker had plenty of big defensive plays to admire Tuesday night.
Senior Megan Wilmot (15 digs), junior Molly Pearce (10 digs) and junior Callie Watkins (8 digs) seemed to spend the night one-upping each other as they kept rallies alive by chasing down balls they had no business retrieving.
Their defensive efforts fed a Leon attack that once again showcased the magical right arm of junior Alex Johnson, the area's top hitter who may very well end up as this city's best-ever volleyball player.
Johnson led the Lions with 19 kills and seemed to hammer home a key point any time the Lions needed it.
"If there is something bad going on she will figure out a way to score," Becker said. "She's just got so many shots. How do you defend her?"
Niceville couldn't answer the question either.
But Johnson wasn't the only Leon player swinging big Tuesday night. Sophomore Lexi Weldon (7 kills), junior Taylor Vaughn (5 kills) and Pearce (4 kills) added their own big shots to Leon's scoring tally.
The balanced effort was needed to quiet a rowdy Niceville crowd that filled one section of Leon's bleachers. The Eagles fans reminded Leon of a five-set thriller that the Lions barely won a year ago at Niceville in this same round of the playoffs.
"We came in nervous because we knew they were going to bring a lot of fans over," Johnson said. "It was loud and hot. This was our biggest crowd. The bleachers were completely packed. I don't think we've ever had that."
Leon def. Niceville
25-14, 25-21, 25-11
Leon — Kills: Alex Johnson 19, Lexi Weldon 7, Taylor Vaughn 5, Molly Pearce 4, Bridget Swingle 3; Assists: Pearce 24; Blocks: Johnson 3, Swingle 3, Vaughn 2, Weldon; Digs: Megan Wilmot 15, Pearce 10, Callie Watkins 8, Johnson 8.
Records: Niceville 27-3; Leon 27-2. Next match: Leon at Gainesville Eastside, Saturday in Region 1-5A final.
