Hartselle, Danville dominate all-area team

By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
One of just two seniors on the floor for Hartselle this season, Alex Holmes had a season that served as a foundation for the Lady Tigers’ run to a fourth-straight state tournament berth.
Holmes found herself featured in a lot of different roles this year, from setter to front row specialist and she excelled at every opportunity.
The senior finished with team-highs in assists (815), blocks (131) and aces (84). She also finished with 421 kills and 379 digs for the Lady Tigers.
Holmes became the second-straight player to earn player of the year honors: Cerra Little earned the honor in 2008.
Hartselle head coach Tanya Lybarger was chosen as the coach of the year after leading the Lady Tigers to the Class 5A semifinals at the Elite Eight state tournament in Pelham in October.
Hartselle finished with a school-record 61 this season after reaching the semifinals for the first time since the 2006 season.
Hartselle had three first-team selections, while Danville - a state semifinalist in Class 3A - had four first-team selections.
Holmes and Lybarger were joined on the all-area team by first team selections Olivia Golden and Cory Livingston.
Golden recorded 420 kills, 596 assists, 501 digs, 17 blocks and 73 aces for the Lady Tigers.
Livingston led Hartselle with 608 kills from her outside hitter spot. She added 784 digs, 72 assists, 53 blocks and 68 aces.
Other first-team selections include Danville’s Lacey Evans, Lindsey Simmons, Ashley Nance and Kaitlin Wallace; and Brewer’s Chelsey Smith.
Evans was a team leader for the Lady Hawks’ defense this season, finishing with 497 digs and 63 aces from the Libero spot. She was an AVBCA first-team all-state selection.
Simmons was one of the state’s top middle hitters, finishing with 707 kills, 75 aces, 86 blocks and 201 digs.
Nance stood out on the front row for the Lady Hawks as a junior, finishing with 429 kills and a team-high 89 blocks. She added 53 digs.
Wallace was the heart of the Lady Hawks’ offense this season. The 5-foot-1 junior had 1,216 assists, 84 aces, 237 digs and 24 blocks for the Lady Hawks. She added 47 kills.
Smith, a senior, led the Lady Patriots with 3.8 kills, three blocks and two aces per game.
Named to the second team were Hartselle’s Callie Miller, Chelsea Bennich, Katelynn Hill and Savannah Lacey; Priceville’s Jordan Crow and Kara Haynes; and Danville’s Tara Wimberley.