GDW Analysis:
HOOVER: Vinemont volleyball was unfortunately ousted by Geraldine in the AHSAA North Regional Wednesday morning from the Finley Center.
Vinemont had the edge at 2 games to 1 but could not keep Geraldine from accomplishing the task of sending the 3A, Area 11 winner home in the Round of 16.
Geraldine won the final two sets, the tiebreaker 15 to 11 with the two programs going after one another for 1 hour, 57 minutes.
Vinemont woke up from struggling in the opener 25 to 12 to take the next two games, 25 to 20 and 26 to 24.
Geraldine claimed a 25 to 20 victory in the 4th set and would move quickly in the tiebreaker, leading 6 to 1 in forcing Vinemont to try and produce a comeback.
The Lady Eagles did cut the score to 14 to 11 before Geraldine got a kill to end the match at 10:59 a.m.
Vinemont's initial season with Kaydi Woodard was a year of enjoyment and headache.
The Lady Eagles finish with 26 wins & 15 losses.
Vinemont was very sound with a 19 & 5 start before losing setter Mabri Smith to 14 assignments after she went through concussion procedures.
Smith fell on the floor during Vinemont's match at Holly Pond September 18. Without her, the squad encountered a tailspin with 5 victories vs. 9 losses.
The talented Smith was back for the Lady Eagles and her role helped Vinemont win the Area 11 title last Thursday in 4 games at Holly Pond.
On Wednesday, the Lady Eagles were a mixture of playing well, but also being done in by unforced errors.
Several serves were too long going out of bounds to give points for Geraldine.
In winning the 2nd and 3rd set, the Lady Eagles managed to show more positive than the negative.
But the misfortune with Vinemont not as sharp as the Lady Eagles were in the area final would be enough to keep them from a good run in the regional.
It was the final time for Reagan Robinson, Caroline Miller, Addison Holcomb and Ava Abernathy.
The four will graduate in May.
In the last two years, Vinemont VB has been on a rise in winning, claiming 75 victories, 49 from the 2024 schedule and 26 this season.
Woodard will see the return of Arleigh Thomason, Callie Briggs, Litzy Flores, Natalie Foell and Alaina Sandlin as experienced personnel to seek consistency in the 2026 season.
Photo of Vinemont coach Kaydi Woodard with captains Ava Abernathy (10), Addison Holcomb (5) and Caroline Miller (23) before the North Regional match with Geraldine Wednesday from the Finley Center in Hoover.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
