Anniston, AL – Faith Christian keeps winning stories with a runner-up finish in the South Super Regional, earns coach a chance to play at his the school he attended in the Elite Eight. Spring Garden, Cherokee County place 3rd. Includes regional results as well as the state-level pairings.
In the place where Avery Gowens attended the high school of his choice, girl’s athletics were on the positive side of stories. It appears that he has Faith Christian’s volleyball team convinced that it’s on the plus side enough to be able to play the school he grew up in during the state tournament.
Faith defeated Sweet Water 3-1 to reach the AHSAA South Super Regional Class 1A championship. The Lions fell to University Charter 3-1 but came out with the No. 2 seed, putting them in a collision course with North No. 3 Spring Garden.
The two teams will meet each Wednesday, at 12 noon. quarterfinals of the state tournament at Birmingham CrossPlex Gowens will play in his first state championship since he was student to see Spring Garden take on the 2014 tournament.
Gowens joked with his current squad after the game on Friday’s South Super Regional final, however, Faith (35-22) did not go into Montgomery in a playful mood. They proved they were serious by winning two of their Thursday games to secure their first state title since the year 2018. They then confirmed that by winning their super regional semifinal.
“They were at regionals and gave their best and, from start to the end, they gave it all they had any point they scored,” Gowens said. “Going towards the beginning of season I’ve been telling the girls that I am telling that we’re changing the story of Faith being ignored and passing off as a team that can be beat.
“The girls were really enthused about this year’s season and came to regionals to show the system.”
Faith was 3-1 during its time in Montgomery it beat R.C. Hatch, Brantley and Sweet Water before losing at University Charter.
“Overall I could not be happier with the girls’ performance and how they performed during the past couple of days,” Gowens said. “There was never a moment I can think of when the girls didn’t amaze me with their performances.”
Faith Christian’s statistics today:
-” Ally Folsom: 14 digs Two aces, 22 kills Five blocks.
-” Anna Kate Robertson: nine digs, 2 aces, 52 assists, 4 kills.
— Sarah Katz: 14 digs.
Serenity Pate: 1 dig one dig, 16 kills, five blocks.
-” Cheyenne Rice: six digs nine aces, five kills Four blocks.
-” Kaylee Hughes — Kaylee Hughes kills, and three aces.
— Hannah Hubbard: three digs 2 assists, 6 kills.
— Kayson Cronan Kayson Cronan: 25 digs, 2 assists
Spring Garden
The Panthers (51-6) defeated Jefferson Christian 25-7, 25-6 25,11 as well as Shoals Christian, 25, 9, and 25-14 on Thursday, securing the Elite Eight berth then lost five sets in the semifinals against Addison 23, 25, 25-16 25-20, 20-25, 15-15 on Friday. Spring Garden rebounded to sweep Athens Bible 25-15, 25-6 and 25-13 in the third-place game.
The Panthers will begin Elite Eight play against Faith Christian on Wednesday at 12 noon at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
-Ace Austin: Ace Austin: four aces with 67 kills, 20 digs five blocks three assists.
-Avery Steward: seven Aces, two aces two kills, 144 assists.
-” Chloe Rule Chloe Rule: 43 kills,11 blocks.
— Maggie Jarrett: four aces, 18 digs, 10 kills, one block.
— Olivia Law: four aces, four digs, 28 kills, nine blocks.
-” Layla Ingram: six aces 27, 27 digs, one assist
— Helena Ingram: five assists, two digs.
— Maggie Reedy: one dig.
— Libby Brown: four kills One block.
-” Kristen Lewis: five aces 20 digs.
Cherokee County
Madison County swept the Warriors (34-17) in the Class 4A North Super Regional semifinals, but they lost to Corner 23-25 25-21, 25, 21 10-25, 15-9 to take third fourth place. Cherokee County will open Elite Eight game in the matchup against South Class 4A runner up UMS Wright on Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
Cherokee County stats from Friday’s third-place win against Corner:
— Neveah Gaidurgis — Neveah Gaidurgis digs three blocks, three aces.
-Macy Lea: Macy Lea: 38 assists 3 kills, 4 digs, and three blocks.
— Ava Haygood: 14 kills, 11 digs aces Two blocks.
-” Raegan Garmany 5 kills, 1 dig.
-” Emilee Paul: 11 digs Two aces, two assists.
Ellisan Givens — Ellisan Givens: 14 digs, one Ace.
Regional results and pairings
AHSAA North Regional
Von Braun Center, Huntsville
Class 6A
Wednesday
Oxford def. Muscle Shoals, 3-1
Oxford def. Gardendale, 3-0 (Oxford clinches state berth)
Thursday
Mountain Brook def. Oxford, 3-0 (Semifinals)
Oxford def. Shades Valley 3-1 (For the third spot)
Class 5A
Wednesday
Alexandria def. Hayden, 3-0
Alexandria def. Madison Academy, 3-0 (Alexandria clinches state berth)
Southside def. Jasper, 3-1
Arab def. Southside, 3-0
Thursday
Alexandria def. Brewer, 3-2 (Semifinals)
Alexandria def. Lawrence County, 3-0 (Championship)
Class 4A
Thursday
Good Hope def. White Plains, 3-0
Jacksonville def. Oneonta, 3-0
Madison County def. Jacksonville, 3-0
Cherokee County def. Cordova, 3-0
Cherokee County def. Priceville, 3-2 (Clinches state berth)
Friday
Madison County def. Cherokee County, 3-0 (Semifinals)
Cherokee County def. Corner 3-1 (For 3rd place)
Class 3A
Wednesday
Glencoe def. Fayette County, 3-0
Glencoe def. Susan Moore, 3-2
Ohatchee defeats. Vinemont, 3-0
Plainview defeats. Ohatchee, 3-0
Danville def. Piedmont, 3-1
Thursday
Geraldine 3, Glencoe 0
Westbrook Christian def. Glencoe 3-1 (For third place)
Class 2A
Wednesday
Donoho def. Holly Pond, 3-0
Donoho def. Lindsay Lane, 3-2 (Donoho clinches state berth)
Pleasant Valley def. Southeastern, 3-0
Pleasant Valley def. Falkville, 3-0 (PV clinches state berth)
Thursday
Sand Rock def. Donoho, 3-2
Pleasant Valley def. Lexington, 3-0
Pleasant Valley def. Sand Rock, 3-0 (Championship)
Lexington def. Donoho 3-1 (For 3rd place)
Class 1A
Thursday
Spring Garden def. Jefferson Christian, 3-0
Spring Garden def. Shoals Christian, 3-0 (clinches state berth)
Friday
Addison def. Spring Garden, 3-2 (Semifinals)
Spring Garden def. Athens Bible 3-1 (For 3rd place)
AHSAA South Regional
Cramton Bowl Multiplex, Montgomery
Class 4A
Thursday
Munford def. Bibb County, 3-0
LAMP def. Munford, 3-0
Montevallo def. Talladega, 3-0
Class 3A
Wednesday
Prattville def. Randolph County, 3-0
Wellborn def, Alabama Christian, 3-1.
Wellborn def. Ashford, 3-1 (Clinches state berth)
Thursday
Mobile Christian def. Wellborn, 3-0
Prattville Christian def. Wellborn 3-0 (For the third spot)
Class 1A
Thursday
Faith Christian def. R.C. Hatch, 3-0
Faith Christian def. Brantley, 3-0 (Clinches state berth)
University Charter def. Wadley, 3-0
Friday
Faith Christian def. Sweet Water, 3-1 (Semifinals)
University Charter def. Faith Christian, 3-1 (Championship)
State pairings
BIRMINGHAM Crosslex
Class 6A
Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
Oxford vs. Bayside Academy
5A CLASS
Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.
Alexandria vs. Rehobeth
Class 4A
Wednesday, 9 a.m.
Cherokee County vs. UMS Wright
3A CLASS
Tuesday, 9 a.m.
Glencoe against. Mobile Christian
Wellborn in contrast to. Plainview
Class 2A
Tuesday 12 noon
Pleasant Valley vs. Wicksburg
Donoho vs. G.W. Long
Class 1A
Wednesday, noon
Faith Christian vs. Spring Garden
