Franklin Free Press All-Franklin County Volleyball First Team
Randi Terry, junior OH/DS, Belgreen
Lilliana Willingham, senior MH/DS, Belgreen
Alexia Groce, senior S, Russellville
Bri McCulloch, junior S/RS/L, Russellville
Blevyn Sappington, junior OH, Russellville
Carly Cason, junior OH, Tharptown
Second Team
Addyson Blackburn, senior S, Red Bay
Kamryn Kuykendall, sophomore OH, Red Bay
Layla Baker, junior OH, Phil Campbell
Ragan Moss, senior L, Phil Campbell
Raven Scott, freshman MH, Phil Campbell
Madison McKee, senior OH/DS, Belgreen
Cadence Kennedy, junior S, Tharptown
Honorable Mention
Brittan Gasaway, sophomore S, Red Bay
Katlyn Lindley, sophomore MB, Red Bay
Karrah Nichols, senior OPP, Tharptown
Adeline Hunderman, senior OH, Phil Campbell
Madalyn LeMay, senior S, Belgreen
Samantha Wilson, freshman MH, Russellville
Coach of the Year: Alison Terry, Belgreen
Top row, from left: Randi Terry, BHS; Lilliana Willingham, BHS; Alexia Groce, RHS
Bottom row, from left: Bri McCulloch, RHS; Blevyn Sappington, RHS; Carly Cason, THS
The Franklin Free Press is pleased to announce its 2026 All-Franklin County Volleyball Team. The team was selected by the FFP staff based on nominations and information provided by the head coaches. The Coach of the Year was voted on by the coaches.
Five of the county’s six varsity volleyball teams had players selected based on entered nominations.
This year’s FFP All-County First Team consists of three Russellville players, two Belgreen players and one player from Tharptown.
Russellville’s three First Team selections consisted of a senior, setter Alexia Groce, and two juniors, outside hitter Blevyn Sappington and libero/defensive specialist Bri McCulloch. The trio helped the Lady Golden Tigers to a 22-24 final record and a runner-up finish in Class 5A Area 13.
An All-County Honorable Mention last season, Groce landed herself on the First Team after taking over as Russellville’s main setter this past campaign. She finished the year with 362 assists, second most among nominated setters, and contributed all over the floor with an added 76 kills, 314 digs and 31 service aces. Groce passed the 1,000 career assists mark early in the season and ends her prep career with 1,280 total assists.
Sappington, a Second Team All-County selection in 2025, was Franklin County’s leader in kills in 2026, recording 329 of them. The outside hitter contributed more offensively with 53 aces and 32 assists and did her fair share defensively, as well, with 18 blocks and a whopping 414 digs. Like her teammate Groce, Sappington also reached a milestone halfway through the season, recording her 1,000th career dig. Additionally, she received one FFP Athlete of the Week award the week of October 19-24.
Russellville’s final First Team nod is McCulloch, making her second appearance on the All-Franklin County First Team. The reigning Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year wrapped up her junior season with a county-high 506 digs, and, while being utilized in multiple roles this year, also added 281 assists, 91 kills, 47 service aces and 14 blocks.
Belgreen’s two First Team selections were junior outside hitter and defensive specialist Randi Terry and senior middle hitter and defensive specialist Lilliana Willingham. Terry and Willingham aided the Lady Bulldogs on their run to a final 21-20 record, a Franklin County Tournament title and the Class 1A Area 14 tournament crown.
Terry was one of the most well-rounded players in the county this year and led her team in several statistical categories. She finished as the team’s best in kills (201), digs (240), aces (71) and serve percentage (95 percent). Her top performances this season landed her one FFP Athlete of the Week award, the Most Valuable Player award at the Franklin County Tournament and a spot on the All-Area Tournament Team.
Joining Terry on the First Team is Willingham, who, like her teammate, contributed to her team in all phases of the game, ending her senior campaign with 182 kills, 189 digs, 61 blocks and 50 aces. This is Willingham’s second appearance on the All-County Team after receiving a Second Team nod in 2025.
Rounding out the First Team was Tharptown junior outside hitter Carly Cason. One of Franklin County’s top offensive threats, in 27 games where statistics were available, Cason recorded 261 kills and a kill rate of 51 percent while adding 21 service aces and a serve rate of 90 percent. Playing a large role in the Lady Wildcats’ run to a runner-up finish in the Class 2A Area 13, Cason was named to the All-Area Tournament Team.
On the Second Team, Phil Campbell led with three selections, Red Bay added two and Belgreen and Tharptown each had one.
The Franklin County Coach of the Year, determined by votes from the county coaches, is Belgreen’s Alison Terry. In her third season at the helm, Terry went 21-20, won her second Franklin County Tournament championship, and led the Lady Bulldogs to the program’s fourth area title and first since 2023.