MOORE HAVEN — While her players performed their postgame tasks of removing the net and cleaning up for the final time this season, Moore Haven Middle School “A” volleyball team coach Brianna Nunez reflected on her team’s performance.

“Very proud of them, very proud of our season,” said Nunez, a former Miss Florida Seminole from the Brighton Reservation who guided the team to a 5-1 record in her first year as coach. Moore Haven shutout Clewiston in the season finale Oct. 13.

In addition to the strong record, Nunez was impressed by the team’s cohesiveness.

“I’ve never seen a group of girls get along so well,” she said. “There’s never been a problem all season. There’s nothing more that you could ask for for middle school girls to get along. That’s perfect.”

The team featured a mixture of students from Moore Haven Middle and Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School, including Nunez’s younger sister Tehya. Their father Dallas coached the “B” team. Since PECS did not offer sports this fall due to the pandemic, volleyball players were allowed to join teams at other schools. For Moore Haven, having players from PECS proved to be invaluable.

“The Charter School girls are very crucial to our team. They are a big part of the team,” Nunez said.

Winning helps, but regardless of the record, Nunez said she loved her rookie season as the coach. It was an eye-opener for the Okeechobee High graduate to be on the coaching side rather than on the playing side.

“I played volleyball my whole life. I’m all about the sport. I have a big heart for it,” she said. “Being on the other side and coaching, it’s been a learning experience. I have to be more strategic with the game play and positions and I have to think about all positions at one time and not just my one position.

“I was asked to coach. I didn’t have to think too long about it. Volleyball has always been the big passion of mine. I love the sport.”