CULLMAN, Ala. – Area championships and postseason advancement will be on the line this week as local volleyball teams begin AHSAA tournament play.
Twelve teams across the Tribune’s coverage area will compete in six area tournaments, with local matches scheduled Tuesday through Thursday, Oct. 13-15.
West Point and Vinemont will host tournaments featuring three county teams apiece, while Addison and Meek will compete at Meek High School.
Cold Springs will travel to Carbon Hill, Cullman will play at Jasper and Cullman Christian and St. Bernard Prep will compete at Whitesburg Christian Academy.
Area finalists in Classes 1A-5A will advance to subregional matches Oct. 19, while Single A private-school qualifiers will continue directly to super regional play. All times are Central.
West Point hosts Good Hope, Fairview in area tournament
West Point, Good Hope and Fairview will compete for a Class 4A Area 13 championship Tuesday, Oct. 13, with two spots in the next round of the AHSAA volleyball playoffs at stake.
West Point will face Hayden at 2 p.m. at West Point High School. Good Hope and Fairview will meet in the second semifinal at 4 p.m. The winners will play for the area championship at 6 p.m.
The Lady Warriors enter postseason play after repeating as Cullman County varsity champions. Fairview finished runner-up in the county tournament.
West Point also defeated Fairview 3-0 in their Oct. 6 meeting. Good Hope earned a four-set victory over Hayden that day, winning 25-14, 25-16, 24-26, 25-23.
Both area finalists will advance to the Oct. 19 subregional round. The area champion will host the Class 4A Area 14 runner-up, while the Area 13 runner-up will travel to the Area 14 champion.
Subregional winners will advance to the North Super Regional at the Finley Center in Hoover.
Addison, Meek begin postseason at Meek
Addison and Meek will begin their pursuit of a Class 1A Area 13 volleyball championship Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Meek High School in Arley.
Vina and Phillips will open the tournament at 1:30 p.m. Meek will face that match’s winner in a semifinal at 2:30 p.m., followed by Addison against Hackleburg at 3:30 p.m.
Addison enters area play after recording four-set victories over Lynn and Meek at Saturday’s Winston County tournament. Ava Bartlett totaled 54 kills across those two wins. Allie Powell collected 34 kills and 55 digs, while Annabeth Powell recorded 81 assists.
Meek also defeated Winston County 25-23, 25-9, 25-18 Saturday.
The Lady Bulldogs swept Hackleburg in their Oct. 8 meeting.
The semifinal winners will meet for the area championship and advance to the Oct. 19 subregional round. The Area 13 champion will host the Area 14 runner-up, while the Area 13 runner-up will travel to the Area 14 champion.
Cold Springs opens area tournament against Phil Campbell
Cold Springs will face Phil Campbell Tuesday, Oct. 13, with a place in the Class 2A Area 9 volleyball championship match on the line.
The Lady Eagles will play the Lady Bobcats at 10:30 a.m. at Carbon Hill High School. Carbon Hill and Winston County will meet in the other semifinal at noon. The championship match is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
The tournament uses a single-elimination format. A semifinal victory would keep Cold Springs’ season alive and put the Lady Eagles in position to compete for an area title.
Both finalists will advance to subregional matches Monday, Oct. 19. The Area 9 champion will host the Area 10 runner-up, while the Area 9 runner-up will travel to the Area 10 champion.
The subregional winners will advance to the North Super Regional at the Finley Center in Hoover, scheduled for Oct. 21-23.
Cullman faces Jasper in area semifinal
Cullman will open the Class 5A Area 12 volleyball tournament against host Jasper Tuesday, Oct. 13, seeking a semifinal victory that would extend its postseason.
The Lady Bearcats and Lady Vikings will meet at 2:30 p.m. at Jasper High School. Hartselle and Arab will play the second semifinal at 4 p.m. The championship match is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Cullman will look to reverse its most recent result against Jasper. The Lady Vikings won their Oct. 5 meeting in three sets.
Tuesday’s semifinal winners will advance to the Oct. 19 subregional round in addition to meeting for the area title.
The Area 12 champion will host the Area 11 runner-up. The Area 12 runner-up will travel to the Area 11 champion.
A subregional victory would send Cullman to the North Super Regional at the Finley Center in Hoover.
Vinemont hosts area tournament featuring Hanceville, Holly Pond
Vinemont, Hanceville and Holly Pond will compete for a Class 3A Area 10 volleyball championship Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Vinemont High School.
The Lady Eagles will open the tournament against Susan Moore at 1 p.m. Hanceville and Holly Pond will meet in the second semifinal at 2:30 p.m. The winners will play for the championship at 4 p.m.
Vinemont defeated Susan Moore 3-0 in their Oct. 6 meeting. Hanceville also recorded a three-set victory over Susan Moore Oct. 5, while Holly Pond swept Tanner and J.B. Pennington in its Oct. 6 matches.
The semifinal between Hanceville and Holly Pond guarantees a county team a place in the championship match and the next playoff round.
Both finalists will advance to the Oct. 19 subregional round. The Area 10 champion will host the Area 9 runner-up, while the Area 10 runner-up will travel to the Area 9 champion.
Subregional winners will advance to the North Super Regional in Hoover.
Cullman Christian, St. Bernard prepare for area tournament
Cullman Christian and St. Bernard Prep will compete in the Single A Area 8 volleyball tournament Thursday, Oct. 15, at Whitesburg Christian Academy in Huntsville.
St. Bernard will face Sumiton Christian in the opening round at 3 p.m. Decatur Heritage Christian Academy and Kingdom Heights Preparatory will meet at 4 p.m.
Host Whitesburg Christian will face the St. Bernard-Sumiton Christian winner in a semifinal at 5 p.m. Cullman Christian will play in the other semifinal at 6 p.m. The championship match is scheduled for 7 p.m.
St. Bernard will seek a different outcome against Sumiton Christian after falling 3-1 in their Oct. 6 meeting.
Cullman Christian earned wins over Cleveland and Locust Fork that day, defeating Cleveland 2-1 before taking a 3-1 victory over Locust Fork.
Single A teams do not play in the Oct. 19 subregional round. Their postseason route continues through the super regional tournament.
