Teams strive for titles

By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
With a host of emerging stars and two teams seeking to continue Elite Eight appearance streaks, the high school volleyball season opens this afternoon around the state.
Hartselle and Danville will be seeking to return to the state tournament in Pelham this fall after falling short last year against state powerhouses.
Hartselle, playing with just three seniors, reached the Elite Eight for the third straight time, but the trip ended quickly with a tough loss to No. 2 ranked Briarwood Christian.
The Lady Tigers will need to replace Hartselle Enquirer player of the year Cerra Little, who led the team in a long list of offensive and defensive categories.
Also gone is Mallory Jones, who had 294 kills last fall.
Hartselle returns several players who had big roles in the run to Pelham, including senior Alex Holmes and junior Cory Livingston.
Holmes led Hartselle last season with a team-high 107 blocks. She also had 300 kills.
Livingston stepped up big for the Lady Tigers in her sophomore season despite playing through injuries. The first-team all-area player had a team-high 490 kills with 424 digs.
Also back for Hartselle after solid years in 2008 are Olivia Golden and Callie Miller.
Danville is coming off a 37-26 season where the Lady Hawks won their first Morgan County tournament championship since the 2002 season when they beat Hartselle 25-21, 25-23 in the final.
The Lady Hawks will be seeking a fifth-straight Elite Eight appearance after reaching the Class 3A semifinals a year ago.
Danville was knocked from the Elite Eight tournament by Bayside Academy, who went on to win its seventh straight state championship.
Bayside Academy has won 17 state volleyball titles in the school’s history.
Danville must have some players step up into big roles this fall after losing Jordan Spinks and Chelsea Keenum to graduation.
Returning this season is all-area standout Lindsey Simmons, a power in the middle for the Lady Hawks. The junior had 438 kills, 48 blocks and 81 digs last season.
The Lady Hawks’ program will be headed up by Thomas Kinney, who replaces Holly Little this fall. Assistant coach Spencer Cole - one of the state’s top assistant coaches - returns to the team’s bench to help Kinney.
Brewer must replace all-area players Kendra Jones and Hannah Chunn this fall, but the Lady Patriots have several younger players ready to step up this fall to fill the void. Chelsey Smith and Elizabeth Bromirski should help Brewer take a step further this season with an eye on a possible Elite Eight appearance.
The Lady Patriots will get a quick look at their team’s progress this fall in the Pepsi Classic Saturday, a tournament that features many of the top programs in north Alabama.
Priceville and Falkville both struggled last year with young programs, but should be more competitive this fall with a year’s experience.
Priceville’s Jordan Crow - a second team all-area player a year ago - leads a solid junior class that includes Kara Haynes, Caitlin Cowart, Sydney McLendon and Tara Taylor.