The AHSAA

MONTGOMERY – Three Sand Rock volleyball players were recognized for their efforts on the court this past week: McKenna Ballenger, Lanie Henderson and Katelyn St. Clair.

Ballenger posted 162 assists and 15 service aces in eight wins for the Lady Wildcats (13-0). Henderson tallied 63 kills and 13 blocks. St. Clair accumulated 36 kills and 31 aces.

In other statewide volleyball happenings, Sparkman High School senior outside hitter Aleah Stogner accumulated 156 kills with her outstanding play at the net last week and helped lead Coach Chandler Phillips’ Senators to the championship of the Ironman Invitational Tourney at Huntsville.

Her strong presence on a very strong front line catapulted Stogner and her teammates to this week’s AHSAA Volleyball Spotlight.

The 5-foot-11 senior hitter totaled 156 kills, 63 digs and eight service aces as Sparkman rolled to nine straight wins at the Ironman tourney. The Senators (17-5) played 15 matches for the week beating defending Class 7A state champion Hoover, James Clemens, Athens twice, Muscle Shoals, Arlington (TN), Madison Academy, Brooks, Huntsville, Hazel Green, Northridge, Cullman and Grissom.

The only losses were to nationally ranked Spain Park and powerful Homewood.

In addition to Stogner, the Senators got outstanding play at the net from junior Cassie Reasner, who contributed 138 kills, 93 digs and 14 aces for the week, and Kemora Coachman, who contributed 98 kills and 16 blocks.

Sparkman’s rise to the top at the Ironman Tourney edged out another great effort by defending Class 5A state champion Bayside Academy (17-1), which rolled to nine straight wins to claim the Mayor’s Cup Invitational championship at Montgomery.

Coach Ann Schilling’s Admirals have won a state-record 29 championships, including 19 in a row since 2003. Her squad has won championships in five different classifications — Class 1A, Class 2A, Class 3A, Class 4A and Class 5A – during that stretch and has been ranked No. 1 in their respective classification in the al.com state volleyball rankings for 91 straight polls since 2008, according to pollster and avid prep volleyball expert Dennis Victory.

Bayside (17-1) beat Bayshore Christian and Fairhope in regular season play before winning seven straight to earn the title, downing Montgomery Catholic for the championship.

Bayside beat Providence Christian, Brewbaker Tech, Elmore County and St. James in pool play then downed Prattville Christian, Pelham and Montgomery Catholic for the title.

Two players, Sera Beth Fuller of Ashville and Jaden Dismuke of Geraldine, reached major milestones in their prep careers.

Fuller registered 75 kills last week in eight matches for the Class 4A Bulldogs including the 1,000th kill of her prep career. She also had 46 digs and 18 service aces.

Dismuke, a defensive standout, recorded the 1,000th dig of her career finishing the week with 125 in nine matches.

KILLS
JILLIAN VICKERS, ATHENS: Accumulated 140 kills in 12 matches.

CALLI TANIELU, WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN: Totaled 103 kills in 11 matches.

EMMA CLAIRE LONG, G.W. LONG: Totaled 79 kills, nine blocks and 42 digs and teammate Breana Henning had 75 kills and 55 digs as the Rebels went 6-2 on the week.

ELLA BOADHEAD, BAYSIDE ACADEMY: Had 64 kills, nine blocks and eight aces to lead Bayside Academy (17-1) to nine straight wins including the Mayor’s Cup Invitational tourney title at Montgomery Academy.

EMILY BREAZEALE, SPAIN PARK: Had 26 kills, 13 digs and three blocks in three Cougars victories.

RYA McKINNON, HOOVER: Had 22 kills and 17 digs in a setback to Sparkman.

ASSISTS
RILEY LOVELL, ATHENS: Totaled 251 assists to help Athens go 7-5 in 12 matches.

BLAKELIY ROBBINS, BAYSIDE ACADEMY: Handed out 222 assists in nine straight Lady Admirals’ victories and also had 42 digs and 30 service aces.

MAKENNA LONG, G.W. LONG: Helped the Rebels (7-2) win six of eight matches, including beating defending 2A state champion Addison twice, recording 216 assists, 42 digs and 11 aces.

SAVANNAH FRALIX, HALEYVILLE: Recorded 174 assists and 58 digs in 10 matches last week.

KARLEE DUNAGAN, CURRY: Dished out 171 assists and had nine aces in 10 matches.

KATHRYN SMITH, OAK MOUNTAIN: Helped the Lady Eagles go 6-1 last week with 167 assists, 31 digs, 21 aces and eight blocks en route to the Briarwood Christian Barry Walker Serve-Off tourney title

ADDISON CHERRY, TRINITY PRESBYERIAN: Totaled 161 assists in 11 Trinity matches.

ERIKA WHISANTE, MADISON ACADEMY: Handed out 159 assists to lead Madison County to the West Morgan tourney championship.

SHAY WALSH, PELHAM: Had 150 assists, 30 digs and 10 aces as Pelham went 7-1 on the week.

HANNAH PARANT, MOUNTAIN BROOK: Handed out 144 assists in seven matches for the Spartans.

GRACIE MANLEY, ADDISON: Had 140 assists, 24 kills, 22 digs and eight blocks in eight matches at the Battle of the Beach tourney.

CHLOE MAY, CENTRAL-FLORENCE: Had 138 assists and 12 aces in nine matches last week.

ADELINE BARNES, BOB JONES: Totaled 133 assists and 28 digs as the Patriots went 9-1 last week.

MANDI HART, SARALAND: Helped the Spartans (14-0) win the Battle of the Beach tourney with 132 assists, 12 kills and 11 aces.

BLOCKS
ASHLEY GANN, COVENANT CHRISTIAN: Had 18 blocks, 36 kills and 57 digs in two match wins over Shoals Christian and Lindsay Lane.

GREER GOLDEN, MOUNTAIN BROOK: Totaled 17 blocks and 30 kills as the Spartans finished the week 6-1.

LILLI BURCH, MADISON ACADEMY: Recorded 17 blocks and 39 kills in nine matches.

EMMA MOODY, TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN: Had 14 blocks and 49 kills in 11 marches for Trinity (11-1).

JORDYN JOHNSON, ATHENS: Had 13 blocks, 62 digs and 51 kills for the week in 12 matches.

HANNAH JONES, PRATTVILLE CHRISTIAN: Had 12 blocks and 49 kills in seven matches for PCA.

CLAIRE HAYES, ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC: Had 12 blocks and 66 kills in eight matches.

KATIE BARRETT, ADDISON: Had 12 blocks in eight matches last week.

LINLEY TUBBS, CURRY: recorded 12 blocks, 36 kills and 23 digs in 10 matches.

JAYNI THOMPSON, OAK MOUNTAIN: Had 11 blocks and 60 kills in seven matches for the Eagles.

COURTNEY PROFFIT, PELHAM: Had 11 blocks and 55 kills in Pelham’s eight matches.

KAILYN QUAILS, HATTON: Had 11 blocks in eight matches as Hatton went 5-3.

DIGS
BRIANA SMITH, JAMES CLEMENS: Had 155 digs as the Jets went 8-3.

ELLA INGRAM, ARAB: Managed 119 digs in nine marches.

AUDREY SIBLEY, HALEYVILLE: Recorded 103 digs, 76 kills and 14 aces in 10 matches.

LUCY WILKINSON, BAYSIDE ACADEMY: Had 96 digs and 24 service aces in nine wins.

BRI WIGLEY, SPANISH FORT: Totaled 87 digs in eight matches.

CHAIZA JONES, GRISSOM: Managed 77 digs and eight aces as the Tigers went 7-3 last week.

SERVICE ACES
LAUREN BUCHANAN, CHELSEA: Served 23 aces in seven matches to help the Hornets go 6-1 for the week. She also had 43 kills and 52 digs.

MACY WHITE, WESTMINSTER-OAK MOUNTAIN: Recorded 22 service aces and 51 kills in six matches last week. Teammate Susu Gaskins also had 19 aces and 76 assists.

ELIZABETH HAYHURST, PELHAM: Totaled 15 service aces, 70 kills and 31 digs as the Eagles won seven of eight matches.