A team of ‘best friends,’ Gulfport volleyball makes history in advance to South State
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was Gulfport volleyball.
Six years ago, freshly-minted Admiral coach David Irwin told the Sun Herald he saw “great opportunity” at Gulfport after building a powerhouse program at Hancock.
Jump forward to now, exactly 147 wins later, and Gulfport finds itself playing in the South State title match for the first time in school history.
The Admirals made quick work of Northwest Rankin in the second round of the playoffs Thursday by sweeping the Cougars in three sets.
“We had a vision to build a program and I think we’ve done that,” Irwin said after the win. “It’s a culmination of (the seniors) coming in and building and what we envisioned.”
It’s been a long road for the senior class. Dual-sport star Brooklynn Montana has seen every moment of the program’s growth, from when she first started on varsity in seventh grade to watching a Cougar spike sail out of bounds for the biggest 25th point in GHS history on Thursday.
“It feels like we’ve accomplished something, it feels like we’ve left a mark here,” Montana said. “It does feel really good to leave that.”
Montana, a team captain who has nearly 800 career kills to her name, is part of a deep core of experienced veterans that include leading-scorer Sydney Mitchell and Libero Anna Kate Rounsaville.
Experience and leadership has had a direct impact on the on-court product the Admirals have been able to display across their 31 wins in 2022.
“We’re all best friends,” Mitchell said. “So (chemistry) really helps.”
“When you know that your teammate is going to be there for you on and off the court, it makes you feel relaxed on the court,” Montana added.
This is the first time the program has reached 30 wins in a season. According to Irwin, it’s the seniors who built the record-shattering machine.
“It’s the seniors, it’s their passion that drives us,” Irwin said.
It was all smiles from those seniors when they dispatched Northwest Rankin High School, but it hasn’t been smooth sailing all year long. Gulfport had to endure a rough 0-5 start to the season thanks to stiff competition and outside factors.
The slow beginning forced the team to take a moment and find their identity.
“I think they realized what you got to do every night against top caliber teams,” Irwin said of his squad’s five losses at a season-opening tournament in Jackson. “We saw them up there and that helped us grow and understand what it takes to be successful.”
Gulfport is 30-7 since leaving Jackson and swept its region to earn a district crown.
Winning the region isn’t new for the Admirals, but getting over the second-round road block is. Upon taking down the Cougars, Gulfport celebrated with the student contingent that was on hand to witness history.
“In the past three years we’ve gotten to the second round every time and then lost,” Mitchell said. “Right now it feels incredible... I’m just really excited to say we’re getting to go to South State.”
Gulfport will hit the road Monday to face the Brandon Bulldogs for a spot in the 6A state championship game.
