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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

COLUMBIANA – Going into each team’s final area match of the season, the Briarwood Christian Lions and Shelby County Wildcats knew that their path to super regionals would go through each other as they were set to meet in the area semifinals on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Before then though, they squared off to close out the regular season portion of area play, and the Lions got the better of the Wildcats to take the momentum into the Class 5A, Area 8 tournament.

Briarwood swept Shelby County 3-0 to claim the county clash on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at Shelby County High School.

Both teams entered the match looking for a bounce-back performance.

The Lions had lost their last three matches to Chelsea, Sylacuaga and Helena. As for the Wildcats, their first meeting with Briarwood kicked off a five-match losing streak that extended into matches with Sylacauga, Vincent, Thorsby and West Blocton.

Briarwood took command of the match early on and never looked back en route to a trio of dominant set wins.

The Lions got on a big run in the opening set and used that to claim a 25-8 first set win.

The second set proved to be the closest of the three as Shelby County clawed back a handful of points, but the Wildcats couldn’t overcome a double-digit deficit in the final points of the set.

Briarwood took the second set by a score of 25-12 and then proceeded to leave no doubt in the third set.

Powered by another dominant run, the Lions claimed the third set 25-9 to seal the sweep and the regular season series win over Shelby County.

Senior setter Mia Wilson led the way for Briarwood with 25 assists and three digs. Freshman Leighton Hendley secured nine kills, four aces and five digs, and junior Clara Crawford earned six kills, two aces and five digs.

Before their area tournament meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at Sylacauga High School, each team still has one regular season match left on the schedule.

Briarwood will host senior night for Wilson on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. against Indian Springs at Briarwood Christian School.

Shelby County will hit the road to face the St. Clair County Saints on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. at St. Clair County High School.