VOLLEYBALL REGIONALS: Catholic powers past Headland, Elberta to reach state tourney

Catholic’s Kierstyn Green lands a kill in the win over Headland in the 5A South Super Regionals at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

Catholic coach Jenn Denham had a simple message for her volleyball team as it played the first two rounds of the AHSAA 5A South Super Regional at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl on Wednesday.

“Don’t get fancy,” she said. “Just stick to what we’ve been doing.”

The Knights breezed past Headland 25-10, 25-11 and 25-22 in the afternoon, then defeated Elberta 25-9, 25-13 and 25-10 in the evening to earn its fifth consecutive trip to the state tournament.

Catholic (28-11) will play a pair of matches on Thursday to determine the seeding in next week’s tournament in the Birmingham CrossPlex, playing Briarwood Christian at 2:45 p.m. and either Faith Academy or UMS-Wright at 6:30 p.m., either in the consolation match or the regional championship match.
“We still want to take care of things on our side because we know the seeding affected us last year,” Denham said. “We came out in our first game and did not play well (against Faith Academy). We won the first set, then lost the next three. So that put us up against UMS-Wright (in the semifinals instead of the finals) at state. So it’s important.”

The Knights had moments on Wednesday when they looked like championship contenders. Then there were other times, such as the third set against Headland, that the match turned into a little bit of a struggle.

“There are moments when I’m like, ‘Man, look at us,’ then there’s moments where it’s like, ‘Let reset,’” Denham said. “But this is the time to peak and I’m really proud of the way the girls are coming together.

“It can be concerning, but in those moments, that’s when we try to do too much. We handled (Headland) pretty well the first two sets, then it was let’s do this, let’s do this. We don’t need to get fancy. Some of them tried to incorporate a couple of things that were not normal and just took a few plays off that we shouldn’t have. Unfortunately, three or four balls in a row like that and all of a sudden it’s a different ballgame.”

In the match against Headland, Zaria Rudolph had 11 kills, four blocks and five digs, Kierstyn Green had 11 kills, a block and 16 digs, Joi McGuire had seven kills, three blocks and nine digs, Lucy Logsdon had six kills and 14 digs and Ava Bierly had 18 digs.

In the match against Elberta, Green had 10 kills, three blocks and six digs, Logsdon had six kills and nine digs, McGuire had nine kills, a block, 12 digs and five aces, Rudolph had 8 kills, a block and nine digs and Bierly had 10 digs. 

AHSAA SOUTH SUPER REGIONAL RESULTS AND SCHEDULE (River Region teams in bold)

CLASS 7A

Game 1 -- McGill-Toolen 3, Fairhope 1

Game 2 -- Enterprise 3, Alma Bryant 1

Game 3 -- St. Paul’s Episcopal 3, Dothan 1

Game 4 -- Bayside Academy 3, Daphne 1

Game 5 -- McGill-Toolen 3, Enterprise 0

Game 6 -- Bayside Academy 3, St. Paul’s Episcopal 1

Game 7 -- Championship, McGill-Toolen vs. Bayside Academy, Thursday, 8:30 a.m.

Game 8 -- Consolation, Enterprise vs. St. Paul’s Episcopal, Thursday, 8:30 a.m.

CLASS 6A

Game 1 -- Pike Road vs. Benjamin Russell, Thursday, 12:15 p.m.

Game 2 -- Spanish Fort vs. Chelsea, Thursday, 12:15 p.m.

Game 3 -- Montgomery Academy vs. Brookwood, Thursday, 1:30 p.m.

Game 4 -- Saraland vs. Hueytown, Thursday, 1:30 p.m.

Game 5 -- McAdory vs. Murphy, Thursday, 1:30 p.m.

Game 6 -- Northridge vs. Stanhope Elmore, Thursday, 1:30 p.m.

Game 7 -- Spain Park vs. Gulf Shores, Thursday, 1:30 p.m.

Game 8 -- Chilton County vs. Rehobeth, Thursday, 1:30 p.m.

Game 9 -- Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, Thursday, 5:15 p.m.

Game 10 -- Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, Thursday, 5:15 p.m.

Game 11 -- Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Game 12 -- Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Game 13 -- Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, Friday, 10 a.m.

Game 14 -- Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12, Friday, 10 a.m.

Game 15 -- Championship, Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14, Friday, 1 p.m.

Game 16 -- Consolation, Loser Game 13 vs. Loser Game 14, Friday, 1 p.m.

CLASS 5A

Game 1 -- Andalusia 3, Montevallo 0

Game 2 -- Faith Academy 3, Sylacauga 0

Game 3 -- Trinity 3, Providence Christian 0

Game 4 -- UMS-Wright 3, Beauregard 0

Game 5 -- Elberta 3, Elmore County 2

Game 6 -- Catholic 3, Headland 0

Game 7 -- Briarwood Christian 3, Citronelle 0

Game 8 -- Jemison 3, Brew Tech 1

Game 9 -- Faith Academy 3, Andalusia 0

Game 10 -- UMS-Wright 3, Trinity 0

Game 11 -- Catholic 3, Elberta 0

Game 12 -- Briarwood Christian 3, Jemison 0

Game 13 -- Faith Academy vs. UMS-Wright, Thursday, 2:45 p.m.

Game 14 -- Catholic vs. Briarwood Christian, Thursday, 2:45 p.m.

Game 15 -- Championship, Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14, Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Game 16 -- Consolation, Loser Game 13 vs. Loser Game 14, Thursday. 6:30 p.m.

CLASS 4A

Game 1 -- Geneva vs. LAMP, Thursday, 8:30 a.m.

Game 2 -- Jackson vs. Cleburne County, Thursday, 8:30 a.m.

Game 3 -- Straughn vs. West Blocton, Thursday, 8:30 a.m.

Game 4 -- Orange Beach vs. Fairfield, Thursday, 8:30 a.m.

Game 5 -- Indian Springs vs. St. Michael, Thursday, 9:45 a.m.

Game 6 -- American Christian vs. Opp, Thursday, 9:45 a.m.

Game 7 -- Munford vs. W.S. Neal, Thursday, 9:45 a.m.

Game 8 -- Prattville Christian vs. Ashford, Thursday, 9:45 a.m.

Game 9 -- Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, Thursday, 2:45 p.m.

Game 10 -- Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, Thursday, 2:45 p.m.

Game 11 -- Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, Thursday, 4 p.m.

Game 12 -- Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, Thursday. 4 p.m.

Game 13 -- Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, Friday. 9:30 a.m.

Game 14 -- Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12, Friday, 9:30 a.m.

Game 15 -- Championship, Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14, Friday, 12:30 p.m.

Game 16 -- Consolation, Loser Game 13 vs. Loser Game 14, Friday. 12:30 p.m.

CLASS 3A

Game 1 -- Houston Academy 3, Thorsby 0

Game 2 -- T.R. Miller 3, Childersburg 0

Game 3 -- Lee-Scott Academy 3, Thomasville 0

Game 4 -- Mobile Christian 3, Greensboro 0

Game 5 -- St. Luke’s Episcopal 3, Hale County 0

Game 6 -- Glenwood School 3, Southside-Selma 0

Game 7 -- Flomaton 3, Altamont 2

Game 8 -- Northside Methodist 3, Alabama Christian 1

Game 9 -- Houston Academy 3, T.R. Miller 0

Game 10 -- Mobile Christian 3, Lee-Scott Academy 0

Game 11 -- St. Luke’s Espicopal 3, Glenwood School 0

Game 12 -- Northside Methodist 3, Flomaton 2

Game 13 -- Houston Academy vs. Mobile Christian, Thursday, 9:45 a.m.

Game 14 -- St. Luke’s Espicopal vs. Northside Methodist, Thursday. 9:45 a.m.

Game 15 -- Championship, Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14, Thursday. 2:45 p.m.

Game 16 -- Consolation, Loser Game 13 vs. Loser Game 14, Thursday. 2:45 p.m.

CLASS 2A

Game 1 -- Pike Liberal Arts vs. Calhoun, Thursday, 11 a.m.

Game 2 -- Samson vs. Lanett, Thursday, 11 a.m.

Game 3 -- G.W. Long vs. Isabella, Thursday, 11 a.m.

Game 4 -- J.U. Blacksher vs. Horseshoe Bend, Thursday, 11 a.m.

Game 5 -- Ranburne vs. Washington County, Thursday, 12:15 p.m.

Game 6 -- Tuscaloosa County vs. Ariton, Thursday, 12:15 p.m.

Game 7 -- Reeltown vs. Houston County, Thursday, 12:15 p.m.

Game 8 -- Highland Home vs. Zion Chapel, Thursday, 12:15 p.m.

Game 9 -- Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, Thursday, 4 p.m.

Game 10 -- Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, Thursday, 4 p.m.

Game 11 -- Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, Thursday, 5:15 p.m.

Game 12 -- Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, Thursday, 5:15 p.m.

Game 13 -- Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, Friday, 9:30 a.m.

Game 14 -- Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12, Friday. 9:30 a.m.

Game 15 -- Championship, Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14, Friday, 12:30 p.m.

Game 16 -- Consolation, Loser Game 13 vs. Loser Game 14, Friday, 12:30 p.m.

CLASS 1A

Game 1 -- Kinston 3, Keith 0

Game 2 -- Brantley 3, Wadley 0

Game 3 -- Sweet Water 3, Notasulga 0

Game 4 -- Millry 3, Maplesville 0

Game 5 -- Leroy 3, Billingsley 2

Game 6 -- Verbena 3, Choctaw County 1

Game 7 -- Fayetteville 3, McKenzie 0

Game 8 -- University Charter 3, Pleasant Home 0

Game 9 -- Brantley 3, Kinston 2

Game 10 -- Millry 3, Sweet Water 0

Game 11 -- Leroy 3, Verbena 0

Game 12 -- University Charter 3, Fayetteville 0

Game 13 -- Brantley vs. Millry, Thursday. 11 a.m.

Game 14 -- Leroy vs. University Charter, Thursday. 11 a.m.

Game 15 -- Championship, Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14, Thursday. 4 p.m.

Game 16 -- Consolation, Loser Game 13 vs. Loser Game 14, Thursday. 4 p.m.