Local volleyball teams play first area matches of season

Last week, the five local varsity volleyball programs—Belgreen, Phil Campbell, Red Bay, Russellville, and Tharptown—started area play. Below is a recap of all the volleyball action from September 1-6.

Belgreen (5-7) played just one match for the week, its Class 2A Area 14 opener at Covenant Christian on Thursday, September 4. The Lady Bulldogs fell in three sets 3-0 (18-25, 23-25, 17-25). In the defeat, Carson Hovater had nine kills, Randi Terry recorded six kills and seven digs, Alayna Tate finished with eight assists, Bryn Scott had 16 digs, and Audree West had 11 digs.

Belgreen, who received votes in the Class 2A volleyball poll released earlier in the week, will host Cherokee in its next match on Monday, September 8. BHS will host area foe Tharptown on September 9.

Phil Campbell started its week playing a tri-match at Russellville. The Lady Bobcats played Deshler, falling 2-0 (13-25, 7-25) before taking on the Lady Golden Tigers. The visitors fell in that match, too, 2-0, losing the first set 13-25 and the second 14-25.

On Thursday, PCHS continued play with its first area match of the season against Colbert Heights. The visitors fell to CHHS 3-0 (23-25, 18-25, 16-25).

The Lady Bobcats will host Sheffield for its next match on September 9.

Red Bay opened its week with a 3-0 home win over the Sheffield Lady Bulldogs on Tuesday night. The Tigers continued their winning ways on Thursday with two road wins at Hamilton; RBHS defeated Oakman 2-0 and then knocked off the hosts 2-1.

Red Bay’s next contest will be played on Monday, September 8 when the Lady Tigers travel across the border to face Belmont.

Russellville (17-5) hosted Deshler and Phil Campbell to start the week on Tuesday. RHS, who received votes in the latest Class 5A volleyball rankings, defeated Deshler 2-1 (27-25, 15-25, 15-10) and followed it up with a decisive victory over Phil Campbell 2-0 (25-13, 25-14). Russellville’s Blevyn Sappington led the Lady Golden Tigers with 16 kills over those two matches, including 10 against Deshler. Libero Bri McCulloch finished the night with 28 digs.

On Thursday, RHS traveled to Moulton for its first Class 5A Area contest against Lawrence County and also faced Class 4A Danville. Against No. 10 Lawrence County, the Lady Golden Tigers fell short 3-0 (10-25, 20-25, 21-25), dropping to 0-1 in area play. In the match against Danville, RHS toppled the opposition 2-1 (25-19, 21-25, 15-10). Laila Hill had 16 total kills in the two matches, while McCulloch finished the day with 41 digs.

RHS finished the week up on Saturday with its RVL Spike Fest Tournament at the RMS gymnasium. The Lady Golden Tigers ultimately finished as the runner-up in their tourney. Russellville swept Colbert Heights (25-13, 25-12), Meek (28-26, 25-17), and Marion County (25-22, 25-21) on the way to the tournament championship, but fell to Covenant Christian 2-1 (23-25, 25-17, 13-15) in the final match. For the day, Hill led RHS with 22 kills, Sappington had 20 kills, McCulloch recorded 60 digs, Fatima Ramirez had 24 assists, and Bella Malone made seven blocks.

Russellville’s next match is an area game at West Point on Tuesday, September 9.

Tharptown started area play on Tuesday with a match against Covenant Christian. The Lady Wildcats lost that contest 3-0 (20-25, 17-25, 19-25).

On Thursday, Tharptown went 1-1 with a win over Decatur Heritage and a loss to Lexington. Tharptown defeated DCHS 2-1 (16-25, 26-24, 15-10) before falling to the Lady Bears 2-1 (11-25, 29-27, 9-15). The Lady Wildcats then wrapped up the week hosting a tournament, the Tharptown Invitational, on Saturday. THS went 2-1 in the tourney, sweeping Sheffield (25-11, 25-7) and Cherokee (25-13, 25-12) before ultimately being swept by Sulligent (18-25, 19-25).

Next up for THS is a road match at area rival Belgreen on Tuesday, September 9.

Russellville’s Blevyn Sappington (11) and Bella Malone (16) await service from Phil Campbell during a home match on Tuesday, September 2.