The Game Plan By Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



Today is the second day of the postseason for high school volleyball teams in Alabama. The second season began Tuesday night with area tournaments that reduced the number of teams competing for postseason honors by half.

If you’ve seen any number of our area teams play, then you’re well aware that we’re blessed with plenty of talented volleyball players in our area.

If you’re a supporter of Tabernacle athletics, then you know that the Lady Torches proved once again they’re a powerhouse as they took their third-straight ACEA state title last weekend.

The Lady Torches had two players named to the All-State team following, junior Candace Coleman and senior Meghan Hallice. Hallice was named MVP of the state tournament for the second time in the past two seasons.

Among our AHSAA teams, two clubs didn’t get out of area, Hayden and Mortimer Jordan. The Lady Wildcats and the Lady Blue Devils still had some of the better players you’ll see. Senior Terri Sharp led Hayden to a winning record with her play at the net and behind the service line.

At Mortimer Jordan, sophomore Peyton Davis led our area in kills during her first full season as a starter. Davis has a bright future. Expect to read plenty more about her in the years to come. Davis isn’t the only talented player in Morris as Ashley Merritt and Ashlee Porter showed match after match, that they’re two of the better players in the county.

Fultondale advanced to today’s regionals after winning only two matches last season. Two big reasons for the Lady Wildcats improvement are senior setter Jordan Mann and junior middle blocker Britani Howell.

At Corner, the Lady Yellow Jackets reached the regionals behind the efforts of a strong core group of four juniors—Nicole Russell, Erin Tingle, Jeri Taft and Jennifer Tolbert.

Those four provided many of the big plays this season as new Corner coach Leah Cross guided a young club to a 14-10 record so far.

Next season could be even a better one. Don’t be surprised if the Lady Yellow Jackets move onto the sub-state round next week.

Finally, the Gardendale Lady Rockets continue to be the best team in Jefferson County. Not only did they win their fifth county title in six seasons last month, but they’ve also moved on to the regional round again.

The four senior leaders on the club—Emily Lawson, Kendall Thomas, Beth Erwin and Kristian Moody have played in the regional playoffs every season they’ve been members of the Lady Rocket’s varsity.

Last year, they missed Gardendale fell in the sub-state round of playoffs, but don’t expect to see a repeat of that this time around. The Lady Rockets should make it back to Pelham and the state tourney after a year’s absence.