Volleyball roundup: Corner takes county small-school crown; large schools battle at Gardendale on Saturday
Corner’s volleyball team finished out their regular season in strong fashion, winning the Jefferson County Schools Small School Tournament on their home court before splitting their last two matches on Monday and Tuesday.
The Yellow Jackets were unbeaten in the county tournament last Saturday, defeating Fultondale 25-10, 25-13 in the opening match and Oak Grove 21-25, 25-20, 15-7 in the second. The Jackets and Tigers tangled again in the championship match, with Corner taking the title by a 25-12, 21-25, 15-8 score.
Junior Middle Blocker Sam Pinion was the tournament’s most valuable player; she had 10 aces, 21 kills and two blocks for the day. Right-side hitter Mackenzie Wiley had 31 digs, and junior setter Cheyenne Bryant posted 50 assists, 10 kills and five aces.
On Monday, the Jackets lost on the road at Class 6A Hueytown in five sets, 20-25, 25-13, 26-24, 21-25 and 15-11. Libero Paige Sanford had 29 digs, middle hitter Cailin Ticker tallied 10 kills and Bryant added 28 assists, nine digs, four kills and three aces.
Corner finished off with an area win at Oak Grove in straight sets, 25-22, 25-20, 25-20. Outside hitter Bailee Hammock had 14 digs and four aces, Wiley had 10 digs and seven kills, and Pinion had 10 kills and three blocks.
The Jackets finish the regular season with a 17-12 record, winning six of their last seven matches. They will play in the area tournament at Carbon Hill on Oct. 22, and will face Dora in the opening round.
Rockets sweep Huffman: Cassie Snow had 13 kills and 17 digs on Monday as Gardendale defeated the Vikings 25-21, 25-12, 25-20 to secure the top seed in the area tournament next week.
Carrigan Fain had eight kills and five digs, and setter Kelsey Hallmark dished out 33 assists.
The Rockets host their area playoffs on Oct. 22.
Large schools county tournament: The JefCoEd championship for larger schools will start play at 8 a.m. at Gardendale High. Besides the Rockets, Mortimer Jordan and Pinson Valley will also be taking part.