Special to the Reporter

Four Shelby County Teams Advance to State Volleyball Tournament

Oak Mountain, Pelham, Thompson and Briarwood are among the Elite Volleyball teams in Alabama.

They each earned berths in the AHSAA Elite Eight Volleyball Tournament to be held October 31 through November 2 at the Pelham Civic Complex.

All four will compete in pool play Thursday and advance to a single elimination tournament beginning Friday morning.

Oak Mountain (46-6) won the Class 6A Region C tournament by defeating Spain Park 18-16, 15-13.

&uot;I wasn’t worried about our early rounds,&uot; head coach Valeria Hackett said.

&uot;Playing Spain Park again worried me some.

Sometimes if you beat a team a couple of times, it gets hard to beat them again.&uot;

Senior hitters Sarah Keaton, Meg Davis and Andi Donald, Sophomore hitters Lauren and Monica Tortorici, and Senior setter Katie Cooley lead the Eagles.

Pelham (46-20) won the Class 6A Region B tournament by defeating Enterprise 15-7, 15-8.

&uot;If we had lost I’d have been in big trouble,&uot; said Lance Woods, Pelham assistant coach.

He was called upon to take the helm of the Lady Panthers when head coach Tammy Richardson had to miss the tournament due to a family medical emergency.

Senior hitters Chan Billings and Kelly Farrell, Junior hitters Michelle Daughtry, Rachel Hardaway and Carrie Butler, and Senior setter Jenny Fennell lead the Panthers.

Thompson (32-17) won the Class 5A Region A tournament by defeating Robertsdale 15-12, 9-15, 15-10.

&uot;We are very excited to make the State Tournament,&uot; head coach Emily Sharpe said.

&uot;This team has not made it past the Area Tournament in many years.

I never would have imagined that my team would make it the first year I was head coach.

We just have some amazing talent on this team.&uot;

Senior hitters Joi Watts and Chantel Jones, Sophomore hitter Pamela Cartagena, and Sophomore setter Tanesha McNeal lead the Warriors.

Briarwood (20-19) finished runner-up to Homewood in the Class 5A Region B tournament, defeating Benjamin Russell 15-3, 15-10.

&uot;We played the best we’ve played all year,&uot; head coach Barry Walker said.

&uot;Homewood is a class program like us, and we love to play them.

I’m just glad we made the playoffs.&uot;

Senior hitter Emily Taylor, Junior hitter Lisa Champion, Sophomore hitter Katy England and Junior setter Sarah Loveless, leads the Lions