By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Sports Editor

Class 7A

Area 6 tournament

Spain Park is the only local team in Class 7A, Area 6, and the Jaguars are slated to kick off their area tournament against Vestavia Hills on Oct. 23 at 5:30 p.m. The tournament will take place at Mountain Brook High School.

The jags have to beat the Rebels to advance to the postseason, as the top two teams will advance out of the area tournament and into the Super Region Tournament. Vestavia just beat Spain Park last week by a score of 3-1, but the Jags have shown they can compete against the best.

Should the Jaguars win, they’ll play in the area championship match that same day at 7 p.m.

Area 5 tournament

Both Oak Mountain and Thompson reside in Class 7A, Area 5 and are unfortunately slated to square off against one another, meaning one will have their season end on Tuesday, Oct. 23, when the two meet at Hoover High School at 5 p.m.

So far this season, Thompson has won two matches against the Eagles, one by a final of 2-0 and the other by a final of 3-0. Whichever team comes out on top will play in the championship match that same night at 6:30.

Class 6A

Area 8 tournament

The good thing for our four 6A teams is that they all compete in the same area. The bad news is that means two teams will unfortunately see their season come to an end in the first round of the area tournament.

Pelham will host the tournament and will take on Calera in the first round on Monday, Oct 22, at 2 p.m. The Panthers have swept the Eagles 6-0 through two matches so far this season and will be looking to make a run at defending the 2017 state championship.

At the conclusion of that matchup, Helena and Chelsea will be taking on one another in what could be a state championship match. The two teams have been ranked inside the top 5 for most of the season, along with Pelham, and will have to battle for their season in the first round of the area tournament.

The two teams have traded wins this season, both by scores of 3-1, making this an even more difficult matchup to predict between the two and three seed.

The winner will take on the winner of the Calera/Pelham match that same afternoon at 4:30.

Class 5A

Area 6 tournament

The Shelby County Wildcats are in the midst of another strong volleyball season and will host the 2018 Class 6A, Area 6 tournament with a matchup against Jemison in the first round.

The match will take place at 2 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 22, and should the Wildcats pull off a win, they’ll not only advance to the Super Regionals, but will have a chance for the area championship at 4:30 that same afternoon.

Area 8 tournament 

Ramsay will host the Class 6A, Area 8 tournament, and since it is a three-team area, they will get a bye in the first round to already sew up a playoff spot, while the Briarwood Lions will take on Woodlawn looking to earn a spot in the championship game as well as the postseason.

Briarwood beat Woodlawn 3-0 earlier this season, and should be the favorite to win yet again.

*Still waiting on time and date

Class 4A 

Area 8 tournament

Impressively, Montevallo was able to win a pretty difficult five-team area to host the Class 4A, Area 8 tournament. They’ll take on the winner of Oak Grove Childersburg on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 3:30 p.m.

Should the Bulldogs win that, they’ll advance to the championship match at 6:30 p.m. that night.

Indian Springs will also compete in the tournament and will have to beat Leeds in the first round at 5 p.m. to advance to the championship game and the postseason.

*Still waiting on Westminster at Oak Mountain and Vincent to have their tournament schedules released