By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Sports Editor

MOUNTAIN BROOK – The Spain Park Jaguars came into the 2018 volleyball season with the goal of advancing to the postseason and the steps needed to get there, but doing so featured a difficult path of top-10 teams, including Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook.

On Tuesday, Oct. 23, the goal was laid out in front of the Jags, and they accomplished what they wanted to thanks to a thrilling 3-1 victory against the Vestavia Hills Rebels to not only advance to the area championship match shortly after, but lock up a spot in super regionals on Friday, Oct. 26, in Huntsville.

While the Jags went on to fall to No. 2 Mountain Brook 3-0 in the area championship, they had accomplished the ultimate goal and will now have a chance to battle for a run at the Class 7A state championship.

In Spain Park’s first-round victory against the Rebels, the Jags were able to claim the first two sets, which put them in a good position needing to win just one more set to claim a match victory.

The Jaguars won the first set by a score of 25-23, as the two teams battled in a thrilling set throughout before Spain Park closed it out up 24-23.

Spain Park seemingly gained even more momentum in the second set with a strong 25-17 win, which became the most lopsided set of the match.

With the Jags up 2-0 and coming off such a dominant set win, it looked as if winning the match was only a matter of time, but Vestavia Hills wasn’t ready to go down and see its season end.

The Rebels battled right back on the brink of elimination and pulled off a solid 25-20 win in the third set to trim Spain Park’s lead to 2-1.

Vestavia showed that same determination again in the fourth set with its season still on the line and it led to a thrilling set down the stretch.

Eventually, however, Spain Park was able to earn a 24-23 match point, and the Jags capitalized on the opportunity to punch their ticket to the super regional round of the playoffs with a 3-1 (25-23, 25-17, 20-25, 25-23) victory.

The Jaguars will now head to Huntsville on Friday for a matchup with crosstown rival Hoover at 11:30 a.m. The winner will clinch a spot in the state tournament.

Spain Park advances to Super Regionals with thrilling win against Rebels