FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Calera High School volleyball team fell to host Jemison in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 4A, Area 6 tournament championship match.

However, all that mattered to Calera coach Amanda Lewis was the fact that her didn’t team bow out without putting up a fight in the Eagles’ 23-25, 14-25, 25-19, 22-25 loss to Jemison.

After dropping the first two games, Calera rallied to win the third game before coming up short in the fourth game.

“We’ve really been struggling with our mental game and momentum,” Lewis said. “We decided we weren’t going to go out in three.”

The Eagles (13-13) advanced to a Class 4A region tournament Oct. 16 by finishing runner-up in the area tournament. Calera will face Oak Grove in the region tournament quarterfinals at 10 a.m. at Jemison High School. The semifinals are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. The consolation match will start at 2:45 p.m. and the championship match is set for 4 p.m.

Junior setter Kellie Rasmussen, who was named the Class 4A, Area 6 tournament’s most valuable player, led the Eagles with 33 assists in the championship match.

Rasmussen added a team-high 13 digs and three service aces.

“(Kellie) is one of those players that I’ve never seen give less than 100 percent, whether it’s volleyball or in the classroom,” Lewis said.

A’Kia Harris led Calera with 13 kills. Harris also chipped in a service ace.

La’Jacqueline Morgan contributed 12 kills. Elizabeth Rhinehart, who was also named to the all-tournament team, racked up a team-high 16 digs.

Calera defeated Bibb County 25-18, 25-12, 25-5 in the Class 4A, Area 6 tournament semifinals.