Four local teams set their sights for AHSAA volleyball regional:
Vinemont, Holly Pond, Good Hope & Cullman to play in Hoover:
GDW Analysis:
HOOVER: Phase two of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) volleyball playoffs is ready to go with regional play.
The North Regional is back at the Finley Center for the 2nd consecutive year.
Four teams covered by Gameday Weekly regularly punched their ticket last week by reaching the final of their respective area championship.
Vinemont:
Lady Eagles champion in 3A, Area 11. Vinemont was pleased to have setter Mabri Smith return from having concussion symptoms that sent her to the bench for a month.
Smith's performance in the area tournament was part of redemption for Vinemont in going 5 & 9 without her.
Vinemont will play Geraldine in the opening round of Class 3A Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
The Lady Eagles are 26 & 14 under new coach Kaydi Woodard and 21 & 5 with Smith.
Others that have been an impact for the Lady Eagles have been Reagan Robinson, Addison Holcomb, Caroline Miller, Arleigh Thomason.
A win for Vinemont sends the Lady Eagles to the quarterfinal round Wednesday against the winner of Winfield vs. Elkmont at 2:00 p.m.
Holly Pond:
Lady Broncos claimed 2nd in 3A, Area 11 to Vinemont that got them a return trip to the Finley Center for the regional.
Holly Pond has gone 26 & 12 for Adrien Adams.
The Lady Broncos meet Fyffe at 10:15 a.m. for their opener.
Victory by Holly Pond moves the Lady Broncos to the Elite 8 and a 2:00 p.m. battle with the winner from Lauderdale County vs. Carbon Hill.
Good Hope:
Lady Raiders defeating Danville in the 4A, Area 13 semifinal last week was tremendous for the match went 5 sets from West Morgan High School.
The Lady Raiders are back in the regional after missing out last season.
Coach Natasha Holder is led by Samantha Perdue award winner Campbell Koch at setter and others like Lexi Marshall, Molly Johnson, Emma Herring, Caselyn Whatley, Bella White and Isabella Guzman showing steady play throughout the season that has presented 25 victories to this group.
Good Hope lines up vs. Ashville Thursday at 8:30 a.m. to start the 4A segment.
The winner is on to the quarterfinal round to play Fayette County or Madison County at 2:45 p.m.
Cullman:
Hitting a peak at the right time of the season, the Lady Bearcats earned a berth in Class 6A for defeating Mortimer Jordan 3 to 1 last Friday in the Area 13 Tournament from Jasper.
Cullman gets Oxford for the first round Thursday at 12:15 p.m.
In her 2nd season, Amy Hudson has seen her group raise their level and with hard work being a reward by victories late in the season, they are in Phase 2 of the volleyball playoffs.
Cullman will look to experience from Blakely Brannon, Clementine Hollingsworth, Jerrisue Godbee, Addison Johnson and Millie Jenkins vs. the champion from Area 11.
A win for Cullman carries them into the Elite 8 and a battle with the winner of Mountain Brook/Buckhorn at 5:15 p.m.
The top four per classification will advance to the AHSAA Elite Eight to be the following week at the Crossplex in Birmingham.
Photo of Vinemont Lady Eagles from left, Ava Abernathy, Addison Holcomb, coach Kaydi Woodard, Caroline Miller and Reagan Robinson after winning the 3A, Area 11 championship at Holly Pond October 16.
Photo courtesy of Vinemont High School.
