Hartselle second at Spain Park

By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
Pelham proved to be Hartselle’s downfall in the Dig in the Park Tournament last weekend at Spain Park High School.
The No. 3 ranked Class 6A Lady Panthers handed Hartselle its only losses in the tourament’s gold division on the way to winning the championship.
Pelham beat Hartselle 21-25, 28-26, 15-10 in the finals.
Pelham, who has lost just twice this season, went undefeated in the tournament to improve to 31-2 overall. The Lady Panthers were the Class 6A state runnerup last season after finishing with 60 victories.
Hartselle, ranked third in Class 5A, finished the tournament with a 4-2 record. The Lady Tigers didn’t lose a game in the wins over Thompson, Spain Park, Oak Mountai and Marist, Ga.
Junior Cory Livingston had 50 kills, 10 assists, seven aces and nine blocks for the Lady Tigers, while Olivia Golden added 32 kills, 29 assists, 12 aces, two blocks and 43 digs.
Alex Holmes had 22 kills, 63 assists, 11 aces, 13 blocks and 34 digs.
Callie Miller finished with a team-high 65 digs in the tournament. Livingston added 64, while Chelsea Bennich finished with 37 digs.
The Lady Tigers also got 11 kills and nine blocks from Katelyn Hill and nine kills, nine blocks, five aces and one assist from Kelly-Grace Johnson.
Savannah Lacey added three kills, four assists, three blocks and three digs for the Lady Tigers.
Hartselle opened the tournament with a 25-23, 23-19 victory over Thompson before falling to Pelham 25-15, 12-25, 15-13 Friday.
On Saturday, the Lady Tigers opened with three straight wins, beating Spain Park 25-17, 25-9, Oak Mountain 25-20, 25-21 and Marist 26-24, 25-19 to set up the rematch with Pelham in the championship.