By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

ALABASTER – Sept. 29 marked the biggest test to date this year for the Kingwood volleyball Lady Lions, the top-ranked team in Shelby County and the No. 2 team in the AISA. Kingwood welcomed in AISA No. 6 Bessemer Academy as the Lady Lions tried to keep their perfect season alive. If there were any doubts about Kingwood’s legitimacy as one of the best teams across the AISA, head coach Anthony Boyd’s squad went a long way to squelching those with a resounding three-set win.

Kingwood rolled over visiting sixth-ranked Bessemer in three sets, 25-10, 25-12, 25-10, never looking anything but totally in control of the match. Kathryn Boyd had 18 kills, five digs and two aces, Kristen Boyd had 20 assists, six aces and five kills and Natalie Watts had 12 kills, two blocks and one ace to once again lead the way for Kingwood.

“I think we were hitting on all cylinders,” Boyd said. “We always expect to win, but the way we won, it was a dominating performance. In all facets of the game we were just clicking, our confidence is at an all-time high.”

Boyd was also the coach of last year’s Kingwood team that started the year 32-0 before losing in the AISA AA semifinals to Tuscaloosa Academy, a team Kingwood had beaten four times before that year. When comparing this team to the team from a season ago, Boyd thinks this team is better.

“We’ve had a lot of good players in the past, but this is the best team we’ve had because they’re all buying into the team concept. Collectively, each player knows their roles. They’re just having fun. This team is really enjoying being around each other. We’re pretty much peaking at the right time.”

Kingwood moved to 16-0 with the win.