Two teams earn a Top 10 ranking a week before 2024 season starts:
GDW Analysis:
Volleyball season in the AHSAA is a week from beginning.
A preseason poll was released Thursday with two locals getting in the Top 10 in their respective class.
In Class 5A, the West Point Lady Warriors are 10th.
In Class 3A, the Vinemont Lady Eagles are 10th.
What makes it so notable is both teams are under new head coaches.
Meagan Cagle has come to West Point. She is back in the head coaching ranks after a 2 year absence. Cagle had four successful seasons in five years at Cullman High School.
Bobby Daniels was hired by Vinemont High School. Daniels has an impressive resume with 921 career victories in coaching the sport for 19 years.
Both teams do return personnel with experience as they blend that in with the quality they have leading them from the coaching perspective.
Three other teams received recognition, but are outside the Top 10 as the season officially starts on August 22.
Cullman Lady Bearcats with new coach Amy Hudson has caught attention in the 6A poll.
Good Hope Lady Raiders have experience and have to replace some talent for Natasha Holder.
Fairview Lady Aggies will be a young unit with five starters gone from the 2023 squad, four of them now playing in the Alabama Community College Conference. Katie Ball braces herself on how the Lady Aggies will deal with limited game time experience.
Getting preseason attention:
Other programs around the GDW coverage area have earned preseason praise.
Addison is preseason No. 1 in 1A.
Meek preseason No. 10 in 1A
Winston County preseason No. 6 in 2A
Arab preseason No. 3 in 5A.
Brewer preseason No. 7 in 5A.
Lawrence County preseason No. 8 in 5A
Vinemont will be at home on opening day in a tri match vs. Cullman Christian and Columbia.
Good Hope has Holly Pond and Hayden coming to Good Hope Gymnasium for a tri match.
West Point goes to Priceville for a tri match, Fairview will be on its way to Hatton. Hatton has moved from Class 2A to 4A for the 2024 season.
Photo of West Point coach Megan Cagle and her team in a playday July 26 vs. Covenant Christian at Jim Boyd Gymnasium.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
