Calhoun County, AL Calhoun County, AL Pleasant Valley, Oxford come back from two sets down to beat semifinal matches in five sets to advance to the Calhoun County volleyball final
The CALHOUN COUNTY TOURNAMENT
Saturday
Wellborn High School
No. 6 Wellborn def. No. 11 Piedmont
No. 7 Jacksonville def. No. 10 White Plains
No. 13 Jacksonville Christian def. No. 12. Sak s
10 a.m.
No. 5 Donoho def. JCA
No. 8. Faith Christian Def. No. 9 Weaver
No. 3. Ohatchee def. Wellborn
Noon
No. 1 Alexandria def. Faith Christian
No. 2 Oxford def. Jacksonville
No. 4. Pleasant Valley defeated. Donoho
2 p.m.
Semi-Finals
Pleasant Valley def. Alexandria 3-2
Oxford def. Ohatchee 3-1
Monday
Championship
Pete Mathews Coliseum
Pleasant Valley against. Oxford, 7 p.m.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
WELLBORN – WELLBORN If it’s Monday, only the Calhoun County volleyball final can be as thrilling as Saturday’s semifinals.
Fourth seeded Pleasant Valley rallied from two sets down to defeat the top seed and twice-defending champion Alexandria in five sets and also No. 2 Oxford returned from a 0-2 deficit to defeat No. 3. Ohatchee at Wellborn High School.
In the fifth set, which was finalized 15-13 both in the matches.
Pleasant Valley will play Oxford in the Monday seven p.m. final at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
Pleasant Valley avenged two losses to Alexandria earlier in the season. It also suffered defeats at Valley Cubs Valley Cubs in the 2021 and 2022 county tournaments, to make it to the finals in the very first time since achieving it three years in succession between 2015-17.
Oxford reached it to the semi-finals for the first time ever since the stadium moved in the Pete Mathews Coliseum, in 2015.
Pleasant Valley coach Dana Bryant will retire after this season her 25th birthday, washed off tears while huddled with her cheering team.
“This really is a sweet thing,” she declared. “The shift from believing they’re capable to the moment they realize they are able, that’s sweet.
“I am aware of the talent I have on my team, but throughout the season they’ve not really known what they’ve got. To finally step into the person they are, was a huge step.”
Oxford beat Oxford 23-25, 17-25 25-23 15, 13 as well as 15-13. The Yellow Jackets’ turnaround saw them revert to the person they were, Oxford coach Wendy McKibbin stated.
“We were able to decide that we would play” the player said. “The first two sets were not as intense Then we were able to decide on the final set and battle.”
Pleasant Valley defeated Pleasant Valley by beating Alexandria 21-25, 22-25 25-18, 20-25, 27-25, thanks to 24 kills by Lily Henry and 22 from Allie Bryant. Maddie Schwabe turned in 51 assists, while Ella Parris turned in eight blocks.
The conversation turned to The Raiders’ huddle following an additional set. The topic was the race horse, Henry declared, and specifically how race horses end the race.
“We’ve been so busy all season long, and we were like, we’ve just been removed by Alexandria for about 3 years.” Henry said. “We thought”this is the year to make a change.”
Pleasant Valley made it to the semis after winning in the semifinals, beating 25-9 25-19 and 25-14 defeat to Donoho which was the team that defeated the Raiders in the previous year’s Class 2A final state. The Falcons eliminated the entire team, with four exceptions, and a right-ankle injury kept Alabama North All-Star player Estalla Connell off of the game.
Pleasant Valley played the middle part of their season, without Schwabe who recovered against an ankle injury.
Oxford’s day began with a win over Jacksonville 25-14 and 25-20. The score was 25-7, 25-20, and 25-14. The day was a success for Oxford. Ava Thomas had 30 kills. Jaslyn Montgomery had 24 kills and team-high six blocks. Payton Brooks served 73 assists.
“Hopefully we’ll be ready for Monday’s game in the match against Pleasant Valley,” McKibbin declared. “I’m excited. You don’t want to get excited in the wrong place But county is right ahead of the area is ready, so we’re all set.”
