Vinemont, Holly Pond VB to lay it on the line Thursday:
Vinemont 1st in 3A, Area 11 VB with Holly Pond currently in 2nd:
GDW Analysis:
HOLLY POND: A lot is at stake Thursday in a 3A, Area 11 volleyball match between Vinemont and Holly Pond.
Vinemont is atop the leaderboard 6 & 0 in the area. Holly Pond is 2nd with 6 wins in 7 area decisions.
The two played a thriller two weeks ago in Vinemont with Vinemont coming from behind to win it 3 games to 2.
Both were in Blount County Tuesday surviving tough challenges.
Vinemont held off Locust Fork 3 to 2 with Holly Pond turning back JB Pennington 3 to 0 as each set was up for grabs.
Coming in Thursday overall wise, Vinemont is 20 & 5 and Holly Pond 19 & 6.
Vinemont has gone 6 & 0 so far in September for first year coach Kaydi Woodard.
Holly Pond has won its last 7 matches for Adrien Adams and 10 out of 11 decisions since hosting the Monica Ayers Classic September 6.
For Vinemont, the Lady Eagles have reached a good level in performance with senior Addison Holcomb having a good year.
Two other seniors, Caroline Miller and Reagan Robinson flex in their skills with Holcomb.
Steady play from underclassmen include sophomore Arleigh Thomason, junior Mabri Smith, junior Callie Briggs, junior Natalie Foell.
Holly Pond has three seniors with Blakely Baggett, Ava Thomas and Morgan Bartlett having a good week in helping the team defeat Locust Fork, Southeastern, Pennington in consecutive days.
Youth movement is well consistent with freshman Sadie Nail, sophomores Isabella Foust, Cira Thrift, Ava Olinger and Ana Olinger displaying poise as they did Tuesday in wins over Pennington 26 to 24, 25 to 19 and 27 to 25.
Holcomb and Nail are two of the top attackers in local volleyball as seen thus far by Gameday Weekly.
Miller is gifted in the libero position for Vinemont while Thomas is given duties for this spot with Holly Pond.
Robinson and Baggett have been impact players in recent time.
Robinson stepped up her role last Thursday when needed to help Vinemont hold off Pennington.
Baggett began this week with inspired volleyball on the evening she, Thomas and Bartlett were honored by their team.
Thursday is the finale for Holly Pond in 3A, Area 11.
Vinemont closes out the area schedule next Thursday at home with Hanceville.
If both finish 7 & 1 in the area standings, tiebreaking procedures will be provided to determine who will host the area playoff early in October.
Vinemont won the area title last season over Holly Pond with both getting qualified for the AHSAA North Regional playoffs in Hoover.
Photo of Vinemont players Lizzy Flores (1) and Ava Abernathy (10) on the bench during the Volleyball Brawl at Good Hope August 23.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
