On Wednesday, October 12, Vestavia Hills Varsity Volleyball hosted the area tournament for the first time in a decade! The privilege of hosting is given to the number-one seed in the area, and the team fought hard for this ranking. They are currently standing at a record of 29-9.
Led by five seniors, this year's team consists of all grade levels. Seniors include Savannah Gann, Kaylee Rickert, Kate Kaiser, Elizabeth Jackson, and Mackenzie Merrill. Juniors include Braeden Krablin, Arden Warner, Grace Mehrer, Lauren Marron, Audrey Vielguth, and Jill Davis. Sophomores include Jordan Madsen, Emily Byrket, and Clare Boyd. The freshman player is Millie Burgess. Additionally, the Rebels are lucky to have an outstanding coaching staff consisting of Head Coach Ashley Hardee, Assistant Coach Madison Thompson, Junior Variety Coach Heidi Kouveras, and Freshman Coach Caitlin Feeley.
To win a varsity game, a team must win three out of five sets. The first four sets are played to twenty-five, and the fifth set, if needed, is played to fifteen. A team must win each set by at least two points.
The area tournament consisted of Vestavia, Thompson, Hoover, and Tuscaloosa County. The top two teams were awarded a spot in the regional tournament. Vestavia had a great night Wednesday, sweeping Tuscaloosa County in just three sets. This secured their position in regionals. They went on to play Hoover for the area championship. Hoover started off strong, winning the first two sets; however, Vestavia was not going to go down without a fight. The Rebels came back and won the next two sets. They went into their fifth and final set with determination and played to fifteen. After a hard-fought battle, Vestavia unfortunately fell short to Hoover 17-19. The Rebels walked away with the title of area runner-ups.
This team is now setting their sights on regionals, which will be played in Huntsville next Thursday, October 20. The tournament is single elimination, and the Rebs will take on Bob Jones in their first match.
As the regular season begins to wrap up, Coach Hardee has been emphasizing team bonding and dynamics. He brought in motivational speaker Marla Townsend to talk to the JV and varsity teams. She is a former UAB softball coach and now spends her time traveling to speak to sports teams in Alabama. Additionally, the girls participated in several team activities to prepare for the postseason.
Hopes are high for Vestavia Hills Varsity Volleyball as the team continues on its post-season journey. Could a state title be in view?
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