Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

MONTGOMERY – After another thrilling volleyball season in Shelby County, multiple stars from around the area have been recognized as some of the best in the entire state.

The Alabama High School Volleyball Coaches Association named players from the Pelham Panthers, Chelsea Hornets, Spain Park Jaguars, Montevallo Bulldogs, Briarwood Christian Lions, Oak Mountain Eagles and Thompson Warriors to its All-State teams on Monday, Nov. 4.

In addition, Pelham coach Perry Robinson earned the Class 6A Coach of the Year award from the AHSVCA.

Robinson guided the Panthers to the Class 6A state championship game after runner-up finishes in both the South Super Regionals and Class 6A, Area 8 tournament. Pelham also went undefeated in all of its regular season area matches with a perfect 6-0 record.

The Panthers placed four players on the Class 6A All-State Team, including a First Team spot for senior outside hitter Camryn McMinn, a Second Team place for senior outside hitter Londyn Wynn and Honorable Mentions for senior setter Kylee Hester and senior defensive specialist Kamryn Rouveyrol.

McMinn, Wynn and Hester were also All-State honorees in 2023 as McMinn was on the First Team and Wynn and Hester were both on the Second Team.

Chelsea was the only team in the county with multiple First Team selections as senior outside hitter Lauren Buchanan and senior setter Cara Belcher were named to the Class 6A All-State First Team.

Two more selections from the Hornets joined Buchanan and Belcher as senior middle hitter Kaleigh Hall earned a Second Team selection and senior outside hitter Lila Willett secured an Honorable Mention.

Buchanan earned an All-State First Team spot in Class 7A in 2023 and Hall and Belcher both earned Honorable Mentions that season as well. This is Willett’s first All-State recognition.

Spain Park also had four selections, including junior outside hitter and right side Bea Wiggins on the Class 6A Second Team and Honorable Mentions for junior setter Cailyn Kyes, senior middle hitter Alexa Benda and senior outside hitter Reagan Gilbert.

Gilbert and Kyes both secured Honorable Mentions last season in Class 6A, and Wiggins and Benda both earned their first recognition at the All-State level.

For Class 5A, Montevallo junior setter Emeli Guardado was the lone county player selected for the classification’s All-State First Team.

Guardado racked up 582 assists, 256 digs and 99 aces to secure her first All-State selection.

She was joined by two fellow juniors in Bulldogs outside hitter Zoe Jones on the Second Team and middle hitter Hunter Jordan as an Honorable Mention.

Jones earned 582 kills, 175 digs, 78 aces and 13 blocks over the course of the season and Jordan had 324 kills, 115 digs, 80 blocks and 51 aces. Like Guardado, this is the first time that Jones and Jordan have earned All-State recognition.

Briarwood’s lone senior secured a Class 5A All-State Second Team spot as setter Mia Wilson wrapped up her high school career with statewide recognition.

Wilson surpassed 1,000 career assists on her senior night on Oct. 11 before helping the Lions win the Class 5A, Area 8 tournament and reach the second round of super regionals.

As for Class 7A, Oak Mountain and Thompson each earned three Honorable Mentions apiece, and for each of them, it marked their first All-State selections.

Eagles senior middle blocker Aubrie Lay, junior outside hitter Caroline Whitehurst and junior setter and defensive specialist Kate Gordon secured Honorable Mentions after Oak Mountain’s run to the North Super Regionals.

The Warriors were represented by senior Hannah Drexel, junior Kenzly Foote and sophomore Maddie Henderson.

To see the full rosters and awards for each classification, visit Ahsvca.com.