Danville celebrates winning the Class 4A state championship after defeating 2013 champion Jacksonville 3-1 Thursday night. | Michael Wade: Wade Event Photography

BIRMINGHAM – Danville asserted its powerhouse status tonight with a historical championship win over the Jacksonville Eagles 3-1 at the Birmingham Crossplex.

The match stretched into the evening, starting almost two and a half hours late and allowing tensions to build.

Danville started out solid with two fairly uneventful sets to take a comfortable 2-0 lead.

The third set had a rough start with a roster one-point penalty giving Jacksonville an early lead. Danville would rally back from a 16-8 deficit with six unanswered points before eventually losing the set.

Danville’s final set echoed the first two with a good start, a sizable rally and a spectacular finish with a kill from junior Jada Harris.

This championship season marked the end of head coach Spencer Cole’s 13 -year career with the Lady Hawks. The Huntsville engineer will be spending more time with his wife and 1-year-old son now that he won’t have to commute to Danville on an almost daily basis.

Danville is not only losing a coach, but also four graduating varsity players. Lead attacker Sydni Shelton will obviously be missed as the 6-foot middle hitter goes on to play for Kennesaw State University, a Division 1 school in Georgia. Her mother Pam Shelton said this game was a major event for her family.

“Volleyball has been a huge part of our family since she realized she had a talent for it in the seventh grade,” Pam Shelton said. “Coach Cole moved her up to varsity when she was in eighth grade, and she’s wanted a championship ever since.”

As a young girl, Sydni was trying to jump and touch the door frames in her home since her attempts were over a foot short, according to Pam.

“She kept trying do it so much her dad finally showed her the proper technique,” Pam said. “I tell her the jumping heights she was continually working towards were just like her life goals she sets. Making it to this point was definitely a goal of hers.”

Setter Charlee Anderson is leaving big shoes to fill since she usually racks up more than 20 assists a match. Her father Scott Anderson said she has the grades and ACT score to get a partial scholarship.

“She’s not sure exactly where she wants to go yet, but we are looking at UNA soon,” Scott said.

Charlee has waited for this game for a long time, but she doesn’t let the pressure get to her.

“Charlee is very business-like , so she has handled the pressure well,” Scott said. “She is the first family member to win a state championship since her grandfather who played basketball at Danville, so this is a huge deal to us.”

Kellee Stiles is a crucial attacker and defensive player. Her volleyball career may have ended, but she is still looking forward to the upcoming softball season.

“Her main focus has usually been softball, but this volleyball season has been a big one,” said her mother Christina Chumley.

Kellee has a special bond with her senior teammates, according to her step-father Butchie Chumley.

“She has been playing in county sports with these girls since she was in second grade,” Butchie said. “They have really grown together, and I think that’s helped them succeed so much.”