Calhoun County, AL – Alexandria, Pleasant Valley sweep on their way toward North championships. Cherokee County, Faith Christian, Spring Garden join area Elite Eight qualifiers. Includes regional results, pairings, as well as state pairings.
Alexandria continues to prove its slogan that runs throughout the season that translates to “no limit.” Pleasant Valley remains determined to send its departing coach as a champion.
The Valley Cubs and Raiders will be in the Elite Eight as regional champions and the list of local teams who qualified for the Elite Eight grew longer Thursday.
Alexandria was able to secure the first state tournament berth since the start of 2020, concluded the region’s run with a 3-0 win against Lawrence County to reach their Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A North Super Regional final.
The tough North Super Regional, which comprises the majority of the top 10 ranked Class 5A teams, marked the beginning of the road in Alexandria for 2021 and 2022. Alexandria Coach Whitney Welch has made finishing solid a priority throughout the season which is why the team’s slogan.
“‘No ceilings’ is true,” Welch said. “If this team has confidence in itself and is able to sort of pursue it with confidence, nothing can stop them from doing what they’d like. I’ve always felt this way.”
Pleasant Valley, the reigning Class 2A runner up, defeated Lexington by 3-0 at the North Super Regional final. In winning 17 consecutive matches The Raiders were unable to lose a single set in four games at The Huntsville’s Von Braun Center.
The Raiders in their final season march include the team’s second Calhoun County title under Dana Bryant who announced in August her plans to leave the team after the school year. Bryant set a goal for her 18th season and final year as the Pleasant Valley’s coach … the state championship that was not attainable for the Raiders after a bout of flu crippled the team prior to their loss to the rival from the region Donoho in the state final.
Pleasant Valley’s Super Regional title marks its first win under Bryant.
“You know the only thing I’m able to do is I believe that the Lord has been a blessing for me,”” Bryant said. “He has provided me with an incredible group of women to end the course with. I couldn’t ask to have a more wonderful group and I am in love with each member of them.
“The fact that they are in love with each other and enjoy what they do and love playing is what has made this season a lot of fun.”
The South Regional in Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl Multiplex, Faith Christian beat its quarterfinal and first round matches on Thursday to advance to the Elite Eight. The Lions will take on Sweet Water in Friday’s 10 a.m. regional finals.
The other team to secure a state championship Thursday’s state berth also was Cherokee County, which played its way into finals in the 4A North Super Regional semifinals. The Warriors will take on Madison County in the semifinals on Friday beginning at 10 a.m..
In the 1A class of Class North, Spring Garden swept Jefferson Christian and Shoals Christian in order to advance to Birmingham and advance to finals for the regional championships. The Panthers will face Addison this Friday morning at 10 a.m.
Other teams from the area that secured state titles in the Wednesday’s North Super Regional action include Oxford (Class 6A), Glencoe (Class 3A) and Donoho (Class 2A). To the South, Wellborn (Class 3A) won its first state tournament entry since 2004.
Alexandria
Alexandria (52-8) defeated Brewer in the semifinals 3-2 in the semifinals and Lawrence County 3-0 in the final to claim the debut Super Regional title. Alexandria (52-8) beat Brewer 3-2 in the semifinals and Lawrence County 3-0 to Valley Cubs also extended a school record by winning their 52nd game.
Top performers for Alexandria:
-Kailey Dickerson: Kailey Dickerson Kailey Dickerson assist 18 digs, a block and four aces.
— Eryn Spradley — Eryn Spradley: 27 kills, one assist four digs 2 aces, 1 block.
— Kirsten Heathcock: two kills, two blocks.
— Cassidy Hartsfield: 11 kills, five digs, six blocks, four aces.
— Kaden Pritchett Five kills and three digs. He also had four blocks.
— Devan White: Four assists with 31 digs, one Ace.
— Ava Johnson: one kill one assist 17 digs, and one block.
— Charlee Parris 16 digs, 1 Ace.
— Christian Hess: 31 assists 24, 24 digs, three aces.
— Sophie Martin: two kills, 44 assists, one dig.
— McKinley Cooper: six kills 3 digs, 1 block.
Pleasant Valley
The Raiders (37-12) defeated Lexington 25-11 25, 16-25, 25-17 in the semifinals. They also beat Sand Rock 25-14 25, 14 and 25,14 in the final. The top players on behalf of Pleasant Valley:
— Lily Henry: 28 kills and 24 digs. She also had two blocks, and one Ace.
— Ella Parris: seven kills, 10 digs, 11 blocks.
-” Allie Bryant: 13 kills One assist 4 Aces, 21 digs
— Maddie Schwabe: three kills, 49 assists, four aces, 17 digs, seven blocks.
-” Madison Schwabe: six kills 4 assists, 1 Ace, 19 digs
— Ellie Patterson: six kills, four blocks.
-” Madi Hay: One kill one kill, one Ace 17 digs.
Oxford
The Yellow Jackets (41-15) lost to Mountain Brook 17-25, 15-25 12-25, in Class 6A North semifinals but defeated Shades Valley 25-19, 25-22 26-24 in the third-place match. The top athletes for Oxford:
-• Payton Brooks Payton Brooks: 52 assists, 11 digs.
— Jamea Gaston — Jamea Gaston: 25 digs, 2 Aces.
— Kaelyn Crossley: 11 digs, two aces.
— Ava Thomas: 30 kills, five digs.
-” Mileah Prince has 16 kills, two blocks and two digs.
— Jaslyn Montgomery: four kills, two blocks.
— Sydney Jones: three kills.
— Daelyn Bozeman: five kills.
— Arilyn Pool: seven digs.
— Berkley Mooney: two digs.
Donoho
The Falcons (28-24) placed 4th in 2A North and lost against Sand Rock 25-22 25, 21-22, 22-25 12-25 9-15, in semifinals as well as Lexington 19-25 17-25, 19-25 in the third-place match. The top players for Donoho:
— Estella Connell: nine kills, two aces, five digs, five blocks.
-Sam Wakefield: Sam Wakefield: 13 kills Three assists, four aces 36 digs.
— Ryals Jones Ryals Jones: nine kills and two assists, three digs Five blocks.
— Callie Taylor: one kill 33 assists, three aces 14 digs, and one block.
— Kate Williamon: 11 kills One assist 3 aces and 23 digs.
-” Ava Michaels: one kill One assist, eight digs.
— Caroline Padgett: one ace five digs.
-” Anna Kate Whitson: one hit 8 digs.
— Lindsey Brewer: one kill one kill, one ace, seven digs.
— Alana Maldonado: one block.
Faith Christian
The Lions (34-21) defeated R.C. Hatch 25-1 25-7, 25-11 and Brantley 25-12 with 25-18, 25-10, and will take on Sweet Water in Friday’s 10 a.m. Super Regional semifinals. 1A South Super Regional semifinals. The top athletes are Faith Christian. Faith Christian:
-” Ally Folsom: two aces 11 kills, nine digs, and three blocks.
— Anna Kate Robertson: five digs One kill 23 assists.
Serenity Pate: One kill Six blocks.
— Cheyenne Rice: two aces, one dig, four kills, two blocks.
-” Kaylee Hughes: One kill.
— Hannah Hubbard: one kill one kill, two digs, three aces.
— Kayson Cronan: two assists, seven digs, 14 aces.
-” Amy Hubbard: two kills.
— Sarah Katz: one kill.
Cherokee County
Cherokee County (33-16) beat Cordova 25-8 25-18, 25-7 and Priceville 16-25 25-20, 25, 8 22-25, 15-13 to secure an invitation to the state championship and qualify for the 10-minute a.m. Super regional semifinal match against Madison County. The top athletes in Cherokee County:
— Macy Lea: 52 assists 6 kills, 4 digs two blocks, and one Ace.
-Ava Haygood: Ava Haygood: 25 digs 10, 10 kills aces six assists, one block
-” Libby Curry: 16 digs eight kills, five aces.
— Nevaeh Gaidurgis — Nevaeh Gaidurgis digs five aces blocks, and one assist.
Ellisan Givens — Ellisan Givens assists.
– – Raegan Garmany, six kills three digs, one block.
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 Shades Valley, 3-0 (For 3rd place)
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
Cherokee County vs. Madison County Madison County, 10:30 a.m. (Semifinals)
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 3-0 (For the third position)
Class 1A
Thursday
Spring Garden def. Jefferson Christian, 3-0
Spring Garden def. Shoals Christian, 3-0 (clinches state berth)
Friday
Spring Garden vs. Addison, 10 a.m. (Semifinals)
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 3-1 (For 3rd place)
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 vs. Sweet Water at 10. a.m. (Semifinals)
State pairings
BIRMINGHAM Crosslex
6A CLASS
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. TBD
3A CLASS
Tuesday, 9 a.m.
Glencoe against. Mobile Christian
Wellborn Vs. Plainview
2A CLASS
Tuesday 12 noon
Pleasant Valley vs. Wicksburg
Donoho vs. G.W. Long
Class 1A
Wednesday, noon
Faith Christian Vs. TBD.
Spring Garden vs. TBD.
