By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

The area volleyball championships wrapped up last night, and a number of local volleyball programs are advancing to their respective Super Regionals as a result of what took place across the state. In volleyball, the top two teams out of each AHSAA area advance to the Super Regionals, and the top four teams from each of the two Super Regionals per classification advance to the state tournament. Of the 13 AHSAA volleyball programs in Shelby County, there were four teams that won area titles and there are seven teams total that are advancing to play in a Super Regional. Let’s take a look at what happened across the county.

 

7A

Oak Mountain advances out of Area 6, Spain Park eliminated

The Oak Mountain Lady Eagles (26-16) are headed to the 7A North Super Regional after finishing as the runners-up to Mountain Brook in the 7A Area 6 tournament. Oak Mountain beat Spain Park in the opening round of the tournament 3-0, ending the Lady Jags’ season in the process, before facing the two-time defending 7A state champs in the area finals. Oak Mountain lost 25-17, 23-25, 25-16, 25-17 to fall into the No. 2 seed out of the area. Now the Lady Eagles will travel to the Von Braun Center in Huntsville for the 7A North Super Regional, and will take on Area 8 winner Bob Jones (26-24) at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 20. All the Lady Eagles have to do is beat Bob Jones, and they will automatically qualify for the 7A state tournament.

Thompson eliminated by Hoover

The Lady Warriors’ 2016 volleyball season ended in the first round of the 7A Area 5 tournament to Hoover, a team that beat Thompson four times this season, by a score of 25-14, 22-25, 25-21, 25-15. Thompson ended the season with a 9-23 record.

 

6A

Helena upsets Chelsea, steals Area 8 title. Pelham eliminated

6A Area 8 is composed of just Pelham, Chelsea and Helena, meaning two county teams had to advance out of the area and head to the 6A South Super Regional. The odd team out this season was Pelham, which had its’ season end at the hands of rival Helena 25-19, 25-22, 25-19 in the opening round of the tournament. Helena then turned around and beat area host Chelsea (38-8) in a thrilling, five-set match 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-13 to take the area crown.

With the win, Helena nabs the top seed out of Area 8 while Chelsea advances as the No. 2 seed. Helena will now face the 6A Area 3 runner-up, Northview (3-14) at 12:45 p.m. on Oct. 21 at the Multiplex in the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery. Chelsea will take on Area 3 winner Dothan (22-12) at the same time in the same place. The two teams would not hypothetically meet again until the finals of the South Super Regional, at which point both would have already punched their tickets to the 6A state tournament.

 

5A

Briarwood upsets Marbury, wins Area 8 title. Shelby County eliminated

The Lady Lions from Briarwood Christian (16-22), in their first year back in the 5A ranks, won the 5A Area 8 tournament. Briarwood beat Shelby County by a score of 25-10, 25-16, 25-21 in the first round, ending the Lady Wildcats season in the process, before beating area host Moody by a final of 25-20, 17-25, 25-20, 25-15 to win the area tournament. Grace Patterson had 22 kills, 2 digs and 12 blocks over the course of the tournament while Natalie Crumpler had 25 kills, two aces, 36 digs and six blocks to help lead Briarwood to the area title.

With the win, Briarwood advances to the 5A South Super Regional, which will be played at the Multiplex at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery. The Lady Lions will take on Carroll (22-9), the Area 3 runner up, at 12:45 p.m. on Oct. 20. All Briarwood needs to do is win two games in the South Super Regional, and it will advance to the 5A state tournament.

Calera wins Area 6 title

The Calera Lady Eagles (26-12), ran through the 5A Area 6 title in straight sets, beating Marbury 25-13, 25-19, 25-15 in the first round before taking out Dallas County 25-17, 25-11, 25-13 in the finals to claim the area championship. Hannah Marling had 14 kills, 16 digs and two aces in the two matches, Dreka Griffin had 14 kills, four aces, six digs and four blocks in the tournament and Johnna Robinson had 23 kills to go along with two blocks and a dig to lead the Lady Eagles. Now Calera will advance to the 5A South Super Regional along with Briarwood, and the Lady Eagles will face Jackson (1-20), the Area 2 runner up, at 12:45 p.m. on Oct. 20. Calera needs to win just two games in the South Super Regional to return to the 5A state tournament for the second year in a row.

 

3A

Indian Springs wins Area 7 title, Montevallo knocked out

The girls from Indian Springs took the 3A Area 7 title easily, beating American Christian Academy in the finals in straight sets 25-15, 25-15, 25-7 to advance to the 3A South Super Regional, which is being held at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery. The match between Springs and ACA means that Montevallo’s volleyball season is done, as the Lady Bulldogs were beaten in the opening round.

Springs will try to get back to the 3A state tournament this season, and that journey starts with an Oct. 20 matchup with Area 4 runner up Houston Academy at 11:30 a.m at the Cramton Bowl. Springs needs to win two games in the South Super Regional to return to the 3A state tournament, but will most likely have to face a massive roadblock to accomplish that feat. With a win over Houston Academy, Indian Springs’ supposed second-round matchup would be against Bayside Academy, which is an unfortunate break. The Lady Admirals are widely recognized as one of the top volleyball programs in the state, and have won 14, yes 14, state titles in a row.

 

2A

Vincent knocked out

The Lady Yellow Jackets from Vincent were knocked out in the opening round of the 2A Area 9 volleyball tournament on Monday night, losing to Woodland. The loss means Vincent’s volleyball season is over.

The Lady Yellow Jackets from Vincent were knocked out in the opening round of the 2A Area 9 volleyball tournament on Monday night, losing to Woodland. The loss means Vincent’s volleyball season is over.

 

1A

Westminster advances to first Super Regional

In the program’s first year of existence, the Westminster School at Oak Mountain Lady Knights’ volleyball team is headed to the 1A South Super Regional. Westminster won a thrilling, five-set, first-round area matchup with Shades Mountain Christian, a team that had beaten the Lady Knights in five sets on Oct. 6, by a final of 23-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-17, 15-12 to advance to the 1A Area 8 championship game. Westminster faced Sumiton Christian, a team that had beaten the Lady Knights twice in the regular season, and lost 25-23, 25-13, 26-24 to claim the No. 2 seed out of the area. Now the Lady Knights will take on the 1A Area 3 winner Brantley (13-17) in the opening round of the South Super Regional at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery on Oct. 20 at 9 a.m. Westminster needs to win two games in the Super Regional to qualify for the 1A state tournament.