Local VB teams play in a preseason tournament:
Cullman, Good Hope meet in a neutral site in Marshall County:
GDW Analysis:
GUNTERSVILLE: With the 2025 AHSAA volleyball season to start in five days, a preseason tournament Saturday from Supreme Courts allowed teams to go through their gameplan.
Taking part in the event locally were the Cullman Lady Bearcats and Good Hope Lady Raiders.
This was a good opportunity for Gameday Weekly to analyze the two squads with the pair getting involved in a hotly contested assignment.
The process was matchups set up on six courts of the facility every 45 minutes.
Cullman's schedule included Randolph, Good Hope and Chelsea.
Good Hope was paired against Cullman and Albertville.
Other varsity teams that were on Court 1B included Albertville, Randolph, Westbrook Christian, Chelsea, Faith Christian and Decatur.
Good Hope won the first set with Cullman by a score of 25 to 17. The Lady Raiders had a good beginning with strong leadership by seniors Campbell Koch, Emma Herring, Lexi Marshall and Caselyn Whatley.
Sophomore Maggie O'Neal, plus freshman Isabella Guzman, Jordan Sanders and sophomores Bella White and Kloe White displayed steady performances against a Cullman squad with good experience back in the 2nd year of the Amy Hudson era.
Senior Blakely Brannon, a 2024 GDW all performance member, is now a senior for Cullman and a solid hitter on the frontline.
Supporting Brannon with steady play were seniors Ainsley Cameron, Jerriesue Godbee, Dailyn Scott, juniors Sage Wilhite, Kaylee Johnson, Addison Johnson, Kynlei Storey and freshman Samantha Johnson.
Cullman was claimed a 15 to 11 winner in the 2nd set when it was called due to time limit.
Both now will use the preseason event to build momentum and make adjustments heading into the opening weekend of 2025 AHSAA play.
Good Hope is to play a tri match at Madison County Thursday vs. Albertville and Madison County.
Natasha Holders' Lady Raiders will have their Volley Brawl Saturday from the Good Hope campus.
Cullman is to play in the Smith Lake Classic next Saturday at Curry High School.
The Lady 'Cats will face Addison, Curry, Oakman and Hatton in round robin play.
Good Hope is looking to "Threepeat" in Cullman County VB. Lady Raiders have won the championship in 2023 & 2024 under Holder.
The Lady Raiders have earned three area titles with Holder from 2021 through 2023.
A strong run late in the season for Cullman last year capped off Hudson's rookie campaign. The Lady 'Cats earned a berth to the North Regional that was played at the Finley Center in Hoover.
Pregame meeting before Cullman vs. Good Hope Saturday in a VB preseason tournament at Supreme Courts in Guntersville. Cullman's captain is #22 Ainsley Cameron. Good Hope captain is #6 Campbell Koch.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
