GDW Analysis:
HOOVER: Cullman County schools have set a trend in the AHSAA volleyball playoffs.
Three teams took their assignment to a decisive 5th set in the area round and have done the same from the North Regional at the Finley Center.
Unfortunately in the regional, all three schools were on the short end of the result to see their season come to a conclusion.
Good Hope was the latest to experience the misfortune Thursday morning in Class 4A.
The Lady Raiders fell in the Round of 16 to Area 11 winner Ashville 3 games to 2.
This came a day following losses by Vinemont to Geraldine and Holly Pond to Fyffe in the 3A division.
Including the Cullman County tournament, a pair of quarterfinal battles were settled in the 5th set for it being great for the winner and heartbreaking for the loser.
The Cullman County tournament as well as postseason by the AHSAA has volleyball matches in the Best of Five.
Gameday Weekly was part of seeing it in the 2025 season starting with a thrilling encounter September 4 when Vinemont edged Holly Pond 3 to 2 in an early season showdown in 3A, Area 11.
The quarterfinals from the county tournament at Vinemont Gymnasium September 29 came out with Fairview 3 to 2 over Holly Pond and Vinemont escaping upset minded Cold Springs.
Good Hope's 3 to 2 victory in the 4A, Area 13 semifinal from West Morgan October enabled the Lady Raiders to qualify for the North Regional.
The following day from Holly Pond, Locust Fork managed to outlast Hanceville and Vinemont the same against JB Pennington in the 3A, Area 11 competition.
Now the 2nd stage of the playoffs with Vinemont, Holly Pond and Good Hope fighting hard, but unsuccessful to win the tiebreaker and extend their season into the Elite 8 of the regional.
Vinemont would go 4 & 1 in 5 game sets, the best of the locals.
Holly Pond went 1 & 2, Good Hope 1 & 2, Hanceville 0 & 3, West Point 0 & 1, Cold Springs 1 & 1, Fairview 1 & 0, Cullman 0 & 3, Cullman Christian 1 & 1 and St. Bernard 0 & 1.
Photo of Good Hope's Lexi Marshall in a Quad Match at Fairview September 23.
Photo courtesy of Cathy Pope McSwain.
