Photo: The Southside High School volleyball team gathers for a photo after the Lady Panthers defeated Sardis in the championship game Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Etowah County Schools Volleyball Championships. 30 in Hawks Bluff. Kneeling in the photo, left to right: Head Coach Ava Ramsey, Sarah Kate Yancey, Mallory Brooks, Jovi Marble, Lexi Graham, Katherine Webb. Standing (from left): Payton Burrell, Elizabeth Moore, Jalyn Allen, Ryland Shaw, Tessa Hood, Madison Shaw, Lily Steele, head coach Angie Reeves. (Chris McCarthy/The Courier)
Author: Chris McCarthy/Publisher/Editor
Southside High won its 14th consecutive Etowah County Schools Volleyball Championship on Saturday, Sept. 11, an accomplishment that has become a major accomplishment of the fall season. 30 in Hawks Bluff.
As the second seed in the tournament, the Class 5A No. 7 Lady Panthers (20-13) opened with a 25-19, 23-25, 15-5 victory over West, then defeated Sardis 25-15, 25-9 in the semifinals. middle. The Lady Lions then defeated Glencoe in a replay and faced Southside in the championship game, where the Lady Panthers swept their opponents 25-11, 25-16.
“We started off a little slow and sluggish this morning, dropped a set in West, and we lost Payton (Burrell) to injury,” South coach Angie Revis said. “But the game against Sardis was a little more up-tempo and I thought we responded well in that game. Overall, I thought we played really well today.”
In the Southside tournament, tournament MVP Lexie Graham had 28 digs, 15 kills, 3 aces and 1 block; Madison Shaw had 18 kills , 1 dig and 1 block; Kathryn Webb contributed 41 assists, 15 steals, 5 serves, 3 kills and 1 block; Mallory Brooks contributed 29 times Assists, 14 steals and 3 aces; Jovi Marble contributed 38 steals, 5 assists and 3 aces; Sarakate Yancey completed 16 steals, 12 kills and 4 blocks; Tai Tessa Hood had 13 kills, 4 blocks, 3 steals and 1 assist; Rylann Shaw had 12 kills, 5 steals and 3 blocks.
As the second seed, Sardis defeated Glencoe in the quarterfinals before falling into the replay bracket. The Lady Yellow Jackets opened with a win over Hokes Bluff and defeated Gaston and Westside in replay games before losing to Sardis. West beat Gaston, lost to South, beat Hokes Bluff and then lost to Glencoe.
Southside senior Katherine Weber is happy to have won her sixth consecutive county championship, four of them as the starting setter. Last Saturday was her first game back after missing two weeks with a shoulder injury and mononucleosis.
“It feels really good to be back on the court and not just sit there and cheer them on,” she said. “I couldn’t have done this without my teammates,” she said. “Every year a bunch of people leave, but they’re all so supportive and we’re like a big family.”
Weber recently committed to Snead State University in Boaz.
“I really like coach (Christie) brother and a bunch of my club teammates are now at Snead,” she said. “I also knew a bunch of girls who were going to Snead, so it seemed like the right decision for me.”
Joining Graham on the all-tournament team were Ava Horne of Gaston, Addison Faulkner of Hokes Bluff, Regan Smith and Addison Mashburn of Westside , Emma Croy and Abby Bunter from Glencoe, Vada Wilmore and Jordyn Knight from Sardis and Marble, Brooks and Yancey from the south side.
“When selecting players for the all-tournament team, I will be judged based on their efficiency, on-court leadership and statistical data,” Reeves added. “It also includes displaying good sportsmanship, leadership, general attitude and conduct on and off the field.”