Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
With top returning senior Brielle Wood sidelined due to an injury for much of the 2022 season, Westbrook Christian volleyball coach Denise Mattison knew exactly where to turn for production and leadership.
“Raegan Harrell had to step up this year and be a captain with Brielle not ready to play, and she really came through for us,” said Mattison. “She’s not very vocal on the court but she gets the job done. She really loves the sport, which shows with her work ethic and her drive. Raegan works very hard on the court and during the off season and plays basically year-round. Any opportunity she gets to go to a camp or clinic, she takes it. She’s also an excellent student and a leader in the school.”
Harrell (pictured above) answered the call in fine fashion, as the junior outside hitter finished the year with 274 kills, 123 digs, 46 aces and a 93 percent serve success rate as the Lady Warriors went 36-6, won the school’s first-ever area championship and made it to the Class 3A Sweet 16. Westbrook also won the West End Invitational, the Yellow Jacket Invitational Silver Bracket and was ranked in the final three al.com state volleyball polls.
2022 All-Messenger volleyball team
Player of the Year
Raegan Harrell, Westbrook Christian
Coach of the Year
Denise Mattison, Westbrook Christian
First team
Raegan Harrell, Westbrook, sophomore, outside hitter: 274 kills, 123 digs, 46 aces, 93 percent serving success rate
Kathryn Webb, Southside, junior, setter: 689 assists, 214 digs, 146 kills, 141 aces, 70 blocks
Raylee Neal, Westbrook, freshman, setter/libero: 510 assists, 278 digs, 71 kills, 55 aces
Hailey Hanners, Glencoe, senior, middle hitter/setter: 330 kills, 254 digs, 229 assists, 67 aces, 51 blocks
Marley Cox, Westbrook, sophomore, libero: 247 digs, 135 kills, 46 assists, 41 aces, 15 blocks, 91 percent serving percentage
Rachael Wilson, Southside, senior, outside hitter: 284 kills, 114 digs, 56 blocks, 27 aces
Kinslee Gray, Glencoe, senior, libero/setter/outside hitter: 468 digs, 185 assists, 63 kills, 49 aces
Chloe Thomas, Gadsden City, senior, setter: 451 assists, 360 digs, 45 aces
Addison Mashburn, West End, sophomore, setter: 762 assists, 36 aces
Lydia Northam, Ashville, freshman, middle blocker: 388 kills, 87 blocks, 88 aces
Second team
Brielle Wood, Westbrook, senior, setter (23 matches): 189 assists, 122 digs, 52 kills, 49 aces, 93 percent serve success rate
Mills Douthard, Coosa Christian, senior, setter: 313 assists, 62 digs, 24 kills, 17 blocks
Ava Dodd, Hokes Bluff, senior, setter: 302 assists
Caroline Johnson, Sardis, senior, middle hitter: 158 kills, 142 digs, 44 blocks, 34 aces
Landri Lipscomb, Westbrook, freshman, middle hitter: 138 kills, 78 digs, 55 aces, 28 blocks
Madalyn Amberson, Glencoe, senior, outside hitter/setter: 355 assists, 263 digs, 187 kills, 22 aces, nine blocks
Uche Osuji, Gadsden City, senior, middle hitter: 298 kills, 95 blocks, 19 aces
Rachel St. John, Ashville, senior, setter: 746 assists, 299 digs
Jovi Marble, Southside, junior, libero: 387 digs, 57 aces, 38 assists
Kylee Wyatt, Westbrook, sophomore, libero: 252 digs, 23 aces
Third team
Taylor Meador: senior, middle hitter: 129 kills, 47 aces, 22 blocks
Vannessa Alldredge, West End, senior, defensive specialist: 273 digs, 122 kills, 27 aces
Ellison Stewart, Westbrook, freshman, outside hitter: 121 kills, 109 digs, 20 aces
Emma Croy, Glencoe, junior, outside hitter: 283 digs, 199 kills, 22 aces, 19 assists
Sidney Rutledge, Sardis, junior, hitter: 169 kills, 161 digs, 30 aces, 22 blocks
Lauren Hard, Gaston, senior, setter: 112 assists, 76 kills, 41 digs, 16 aces
Evelyn Nowak, Coosa Christian, freshman, outside hitter: 153 kills, 68 digs, 34 aces
Vada Willmore, Sardis, freshman, hitter: 319 kills, 36 blocks
Zahkiyla Cook, Ashville, junior, middle hitter: 249 kills, 245 digs
Ansley Wilborn, Gadsden City, junior, libero: 438 digs
Honorable Mention
Henley Beddingfield, Westbrook, junior, libero: 211 digs, 36 assists, 17 aces
Lexi Ponce, Gaston, sophomore, outside hitter: 87 digs, 56 aces, 39 kills
Haley Kate Wellingham, Hokes Bluff, senior, middle hitter: 75 kills
Kaitlyn Thacker, Gaston, sophomore, defensive specialist: 156 digs, 36 aces, 19 kills
Emily Humphries, Sardis, senior, setter: 277 assists, 70 digs, 15 aces
Kayla Traylor, Hokes Bluff, senior, outside hitter: 83 kills
Hope Jenkins, West End, senior, middle hitter: 244 kills, 32 aces