Showdown on tap Thursday in local prep volleyball:

Holly Pond at Vinemont for 1st place in 3A, Area 11 play:

GDW Analysis:
  VINEMONT: First place is up for grabs in local volleyball Thursday between two rivals that compete in AHSAA 3A, Area 11.
Holly Pond and Vinemont share the lead heading into this encounter.
Holly Pond outlasted Hanceville 3 to 2 Tuesday to create a 2 & 0 mark for the Lady Broncos.
Vinemont was idle Tuesday as they went 2 & 0 in the area last week by defeating Locust Fork and JB Pennington in straight sets.
Vinemont has the best record currently at 13 & 5. Holly Pond is 8 & 4 overall. This game will count in the county standings too with Vinemont playing a county team officially for the first time and Holly Pond 2 & 2 in the county standings.
Match time is 5:00 p.m. in the best of five. Vinemont is the defending area champion and Holly Pond the runner up from 2024 play.
Good Hope got wins on the road for the first time Tuesday. Lady Raiders swept Holly Pond and Hanceville in a tri match at Lane Horton Gymnasium.
The Lady Raiders are 8 & 4 and have a 3 & 0 record vs. the county, tied for the lead with West Point.
Cullman traveled to Morgan County and edged Danville 2 games to 1, plus got a victory against Clements.
Lady Bearcats have won 7 out of 14 assignments early in 2025 play.
Other good assignments on Thursday:
Aside from Holly Pond at Vinemont, Cullman has West Point and Guntersville to visit Bearcat Arena for a tri match.
Cullman and West Point play at 4:30, Cullman faces Guntersville at 5:30 and West Point closes out the assignment with Guntersville at 6:30.
Cullman Christian School opens 1A, Area 13 at home vs. Meek at 5:00 p.m.
Cold Springs will be on its new floor and welcome Carbon Hill to town for a 5:00 assignment.
Good Hope is play at Hayden at 4:30 then taking on Corner in a tri match in Blount County.
Hanceville also goes to Blount County with the Lady Bulldogs at JB Pennington in area play at 5:30 followed by a challenge against Oneonta at 6:30.

 Photo of Holly Pond volleyball celebrating during the West End Invitational August 23 in Walnut Grove.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Cagle Nail.