Vinemont VB opens 3A, Area 11 play with a victory:
Lady Eagles follow area win with victory over a good Corner team:
GDW Analysis:
VINEMONT: A season ago, Vinemont volleyball was the best in AHSAA 3A, Area 11, winning the championship from four opponents.
Now playing the position to defend their area honor, the Lady Eagles began the 2025 area schedule Tuesday at home by sweeping JB Pennington 25 to 13, 25 to 18 and 25 to 19.
Vinemont managed to keep momentum going in the evening time by taking a hard fought match from Corner, winning the tiebreaking set 15 to 11.
In less than a week into her first season coaching Vinemont, Kaydi Woodard has seen her Lady Eagles work on consistency and offsetting miscues.
The sweep of JB Pennington was done in 1 hour, 5 minutes.
Three seniors pave the way for Vinemont in leadership and experience.
One was a factor right off in the first set. Caroline Miller scored six consecutive points after Pennington had tied the set with the Lady Eagles going up 7 to 1.
Reagan Robinson earned three straight points on serve with the score now 18 to 3.
Addison Holcomb contributed on serve and at the net too. These three were part of a record setting program for Vinemont in 2024, 49 victories out of 60 decisions.
Getting a chance to be impact performers to go with the experience for Vinemont were sophomore Arleigh Thomason, junior Natalie Foell, junior Lizzy Flores, senior Aubrey Smith and senior Ava Abernathy.
Foell delivered a few kills in the 2nd set with Thomason closing out the victory by a kill in the finale off a serve from Flores.
Pennington came to Vinemont 1 & 0 in area play after defeating Locust Fork on Monday.
The Lady Eagles were 1 & 0 in the area at 5:27 p.m. Tuesday.
Vinemont vs. Corner:
Corner was part of the tri match. The Yellow Jackets swept Pennington 25 to 13 and 25 to 22 then took on Vinemont in a highly participated early season showdown.
Corner was 6 & 1 after the sweep of Pennington. Vinemont had 6 wins out of 9 opportunities under Woodard in her rookie stint with the 3A school here in Cullman County.
Corner was with six consecutive victories and showing how good they are when the Yellow Jackets went out to a 7 to 2 lead in the first set.
Vinemont managed to stay cool under intense pressure.
Robinson collected five straight service points and heads up plays from Smith, Thomason and Foell would move the Lady Eagles in front at 15 to 11.
With Corner down 19 to 16, the Yellow Jackets served the ball out of bounds for a Vinemont point. Thomason gained a couple of front row kills, Flores scored and a kill from Holcomb ended the opener at 25 to 20 Vinemont.
Corner trailed in the 2nd set 10 to 4 and would put together a rally that carried the Yellow Jackets to a 25 to 19 triumph and send the match into a decisive 3rd set.
Vinemont quickly scored four times on serves by Smith, only to see Corner fight back and get the lead at 9 to 8 on a backrow volley by senior outside hitter Sarah Berry.
After falling behind a point, Vinemont tied it at 11 to 11 when Holcomb converted a kill from a serve by Thomason.
Thomason stayed focused and scored the next four points with the last coming on a 2 hit infraction against the Yellow Jackets.
The set ended at 7:43 p.m. being played in 1 hour, 1 minute.
Woodard's squad is 4 & 0 at home.
Vinemont faces Locust Fork for area play at Vinemont Thursday and will also be taking on Cullman Christian School in a tri match. The series will begin at 4:00 p.m.
JB Pennington comes back into Cullman County Thursday for area play at Holly Pond then a matchup vs. Cold Springs.
The tri match from Dwayne Adams Court/Felton Easterwood Gym will begin Thursday at 4:00 p.m.
Photo of Vinemont VB coach Kaydi Woodard and senior Caroline Miller Tuesday during 3A, Area 11 contest vs. JB Pennington at Vinemont Gym. GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
