Photo: The Westbrook Christian volleyball team gathers for a photo following the Lady Warriors’ victory over Glencoe in the Class 3A Area 11 Tournament championship on Thursday, Oct. 19 in Rainbow City. Pictured, from left: assistant coach Dale Beason, assistant coach Kyndell Daniels, Reid Elam, Raylee Neal, Ellison Stewart, Sara Cate Windle, Henley Beddingfield, Raegan Harrell, Marley Cox, Kylee Wyatt, Landri Lipscomb, Caroline Taylor, head coach Denise Mattison, assistant coach Courtlyn Barber. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
For the second year in a row, the Westbrook Christian volleyball team earned a late October trip to the Rocket City.
The fourth-ranked Lady Warriors (28-13) won their second straight Class 3A Area 11
Tournament title with a 25-13, 25-15, 25-16 sweep over Glencoe on Thursday, Oct. 19 in Rainbow City.
Both teams advanced to the Super North Regional Tournament at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville starting Wednesday, Oct. 25. Westbrook will face Carbon Hill at 10:15 a.m., while Glencoe opens against Fayette County at 9 a.m.
“We had three great practices coming in, and the girls were loose and ready to go,” said Westbrook head coach Denise Mattison. “Our girls definitely came to play tonight. I was really pleased with our effort. The girls are focused and know what the next step is.”
For the Lady Warriors against Glencoe, Raegan Harrell had 20 kills, eight digs and one ace; Raylee Neal had 23 assists, two kills and one ace. Marley Cox had eight kills and four digs; Henley Beddingfield had nine digs, three assists and one ace; Landri Lipscomb had seven kills, seven digs and two blocks; Ellison Stewart had six kills, four digs and one ace; and Kyle Wyatt had five assists, five digs and two aces.
For the Lady Yellow Jackets (16-36), Emma Croy had eight kills, followed by Libby King with four, Ali Jo Amos with three and Evelyn Nowak with two. Abi Bunt distributed nine assists, while Brianna Adcock dealt out six. Gracyn Bunt came up with 15 digs, followed by Kaelyn Hollis with 12, Bunt and Croy with 10 each, King and Adcock with three and Amos with two. Amos also had one block.
In the tournament semifinals, Glencoe posted a 25-8, 25-20, 25-12 win over Hokes Bluff. King had eight kills, followed by Nowak with seven and Amos and Croy with five each. Adock and Bunt had 11 and nine assists, respectively. Hollis served up five aces, while Gracyn Bunt and Zowie Morris each had three. Hollis had nine digs, followed by Abi Bunt with eight, Croy with seven, King with six, Adcock with three and Amos with two. Nowak also had two blocks.
Three other local teams qualified for the regional tournament.
Southside fell to Alexandria, 17-25, 15-25, 21-25, in the finals of the Class 5A Area 12 Tournament. The Lady Panthers (25-20) face Jasper on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 11:30 a.m.
West End lost to Sand Rock, 22-25, 15-25, 8-25, in the finals of the Class 2A Area 12 Tournament. The Lady Patriots (13-13) face Lexington on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 12:45 p.m.
Ashville fell to Cherokee County, 3-0, in the finals of the Class 4A Area 11 Tournament. The Lady Bulldogs (27-28) face Corner on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 9 a.m.