Thursday, November 21, 2024
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Sarah Frazee and Bella Satterwhite (seated, center) signed last week to play indoor and beach volleyball at SMU and USC, respectively. Also pictured are (seated, from left): parents Jason and Amanda Frazee and parents Brenda Smith and David Satterwhite. Back (from left): GBHS head volleyball coach Jasmine King and assistant coach Steven Clay. Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News
It was an afternoon of more cries and some much ­needed laughs as the two ­biggest ­pieces of the GBHS Lady ­Dolphin ­volleyball team signed ­scholarships last week to ­continue their volleyball careers.
Satterwhite, the first four-year varsity letterwinner in ­nearly a decade, signed to play beach volleyball at the ­University of Southern ­California, while teammate Sarah Frazee, who played with Satterwhite on ­varsity for three of those years, will continue her indoor ­volleyball career at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
The duo, who led the Lady Dolphins to a state runner up finish just four days prior, are the school’s all time kill and dig leader, respectively.
The signings took place four days after the ending of the Lady Dolphins’ highly ­controversial loss to St. ­Thomas Aquinas in the 6A state ­championship match – where an Aquinas ­attack at 14- 15 hit the antenna but was ruled a point (and the state title) to STA.
“I made sure to wear ­waterproof mascara today, ­because it’s very emotional.” coach Jasmine King said. “I knew that we would get to the point. I just never wanted it to come.”
GBHS volleyball coach Jasmine King (left) got to coach Sarah ­Frazee (center) and Bella Satterwhite Saturday at the Florida ­Athletic Coaches Association’s All Star Game in Lakeland. King played in the game in 2010. Submitted Photo
Satterwhite is the school’s first four-year volleyball ­letterwinner since Maddie Grace McCurdy and only the third (Caitlin Chapman) since King did it from 2007-10.
“Coach Clay and I kept ­hearing about this kid who was really good at the Rec Center,” King said. “When she got into the gym with the junior and ­seniors (her freshman year), we knew pretty quickly that she would make varsity.”
Satterwhite finished her ­career with 1,134 kills, ­shattering the previous record held by King (918). Her 911 ­career digs is second in school history behind Frazee.
GBHS went 102-14 with four district titles with Satterwhite in the program. “She has truly been the rock of the program,” King said.
The daughter of David ­Satterwhite and Brenda Smith will play for the defending four-time national champions.
Sarah Frazee looks on as Bella Satterwhite receives a serve during GBHS’ recent state championship match with St. Thomas Aquinas. Satterwhite is the school’s all-time kill leader, while Frazee leads the school in all-time digs. Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News
“First, the academics. For me, volleyball was always the means to get me into the best ­academic school possible,” ­Satterwhite said. “Secondly, it would be the athletics. They’re the four-time national ­champions. That takes a lot of grit and determination from everyone in the program.”
“You are the hardest ­working, most ­competitive, smartest player I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach,” King said of the daughter of Jason and Amanda Frazee.
“She is the type of ­person and athlete I pray for my ­daughters to be.”
She is only the second I player to play ­indoor volleyball since King ­( Southern Miss, 2001- 14, with ­Lauren Kellen, Yale, ­being the other). She finished her career with 1,022 digs and a 78-9 record in her varsity career. She is also fifth academically in GBHS’ Class of 2025.
“SMU really presented the full package for me. It’s in a great city (Dallas) that I can ­network in and find a great job in,” ­Frazee said.
“The coaches made it feel like a family. It’s very close knit and they’re up and coming – they just joined the ACC.
“These two have made an impact on this community that may never be duplicated. You are truly two of the greatest ­volleyball players that ever walked these halls,” said King, who coached the pair at ­Saturday’s FACA All Star Game – a game she played in in 2010.
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