Arnold, Mosley facing familiar regional opponents

Bay County teams with familiar opponents are ready to square off in their respective regional volleyball semifinals on Tuesday.

Mosley, the district champion in 2-6A, hosts Niceville for the fourth time this season at 7 p.m. Arnold, runner-up in 1-5A, travels to Gulf Breeze to face the Dolphins for the fifth meeting between the teams, also at 7 p.m. Area teams in Rural Class 1A start their regional tournament after more than 10 days off since the finish of district draws.

The Dolphins (25-3) are fresh off a sweep of Tate in the regional quarterfinal. Niceville beat Pensacola Washington in four sets to advance.

Mosley has won two of three meetings between the schools. They swapped road wins and Mosley won on a neutral court.

The Dolphins have tied a school record for wins. One more not only would set a school record, but put them in the regional championship match for the first time.

“I think we’re just focused on Niceville right now, we’re ready for the game,” Mosley coach Steve Canfield said. “I haven’t talked to the girls of the pressure of the game, but if we get into the regional final of course we’ll be ecstatic.”

To get there, Canfield said Mosley must continue to do what it does best, which is attack and be aggressive at the net. That starts with Deanna Canfield, but he said Cayce May must put balls away as well. He also singled out Rachel Skibba, the team’s sophomore middle hitter.

“We’re looking for a big game from Rachel,” Canfield said. “She’s only a sophomore, but she’s getting more confidence and we need her hitting and blocking.”

Coach Canfield said neither team will try anything different tonight. They both know strengths and weaknesses, the latter which are few, and it’s a matter of want, he said.

“Niceville has six seniors and we have six seniors,” he said. “The girls that want it the most are the ones that will pull it out.”

The winner of the match plays the survivor of Tallahassee Leon-Orange Park at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Arnold also eyes its first regional championship match. Last week’s three-set win over Wakulla was the Marlins’ first regional victory in five trips to the postseason.

Gulf Breeze has won the four previous matchups, including the district championship. Arnold coach Karisa Wesley said the Marlins (18-9) have improved against Gulf Breeze each time, but have yet to make a dent in the outcome.

Arnold will need to rely on the serving prowess of points leaders Sarah Robertson and Alex Dyer. Dyer also leads the area in assists and her passing to the front line of kill leaders Madi Wichterman and Emma Moskowitz will be key.

The Arnold-Gulf Breeze winner takes on the Jacksonville Bishop Kenny-Ponte Vedra victor on Saturday.

In Rural 1A, five area teams start playoff runs in the regional semifinal.

Baker hosts Chipley in the top of the bracket. Liberty County is at Sneads and Altha at Blountstown in the bottom half of the District 1-2 pairings. The Rural bracketing ensures that at least one area team will be playing in the state semifinals.