Varsity volleyball roundup: Belgreen, Tharptown recognize seniors as regular season wraps up

This varsity volleyball roundup up is of matches played Monday, October 6, through Saturday, October 11. It was the final week of regular season contests for all five varsity volleyball teams in Franklin County. All will play in area tournaments held on Wednesday, October 15, and Thursday, October 16.

Belgreen started the week off on Monday, October 6, with a match against Phillips on the Lady Bulldogs’ Senior Night. Seniors Carson Hovater, Bryn Scott, Laura Seal, Alayna Tate, Isabella Tate, and Audree West were recognized.

BHS celebrated with a 3-0 (25-15. 25-20, 25-20) win over the Lady Bears. Stats on the night for the six seniors include: Hovater with 16 kills, Isabella Tate with 10 kills and 11 digs, Scott with 13 digs, West with three kills and 11 digs, Alayna Tate with 32 assists and eight digs, and Seal with four kills and six digs.

The Lady Bulldogs capped their week with a tri-match at Cherokee on Tuesday. BHS started off with a match against the hosts Cherokee, beating the Lady Indians 25-15, 25-11 to win 2-0. Randi Terry led the team with eight kills and added nine digs, Hovater finished with six kills, Alayna Tate made 21 assists and had five digs, and Scott came up with 14 digs.

Belgreen concluded the evening with a contest against Red Bay. After losing the opening set 20-25, BHS came back to win the second set and the tiebreaker 15-7.

The Lady Bulldogs ended the week with a 22-10 overall record. Belgreen’s next match will be against Mars Hill in the Class 2A Area 14 tournament which is set to start at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15.

Phil Campbell played against Red Bay on Monday, October 6, and came away with a 2-1 victory. PCHS then traveled to Sheffield where the visitors fell to the Lady Bulldogs in five sets.

The Lady Bobcats will face Sheffield to open the Class 3A Area 15 on Thursday, October 16.

Red Bay two matches of the week were played on October 7, at Cherokee. The Lady Tigers fell to Belgreen 2-1, winning the opening set before dropping the last two, to start the night. But RBHS rebounded with a 2-0 victory over the host Cherokee to cap the regular season with a win.

Russellville, after falling behind two sets to none, stormed back to defeat area rival West Point 3-2 on Tuesday night. The Lady Warriors beat the Lady Golden Tigers 26-24, 25-20 to start the match, but RHS was able to rally to take the final three sets 25-23, 26-24, 15-12. The victory secured Russellville’s right to host the area tournament and, in three-team Class 5A Area 15, automatically clinched the Lady Golden Tigers a berth in the regional tournament.

Russellville’s come-from-behind effort was led by senior hitter Laila Hill, who finished the match with a remarkable 25 kills. Senior setter Fatima Ramirez recorded 26 assists in the victory, and sophomore Bri McCulloch had an eye-popping 58 digs. The area triumph gave RHS the right to host the area tournament which will be held on October 15-18.

After the West Point win, the Lady Golden Tigers went on to grab another victory that night over Hamilton. RHS, improving to 38-14 overall, dispatched the Lady Aggies 2-0 (25-12, 25-10). Hill led the squad with another six kills, Ramirez had 11 assists, and McCulloch recorded 13 more digs.

Russellville wrapped the week and its regular season with a match at Austin High School on Thursday, October 9. The Lady Golden Tigers fell in that contest 3-0 (13-25, 19-25, 13-25). Hill led the team with six kills in the loss, Ramirez had eight assists, and McCulloch had 21 digs.

The Lady Golden Tigers’ next match will be in the area tournament championship against the winner of the Lawrence County-West Point game on Thursday, October 16.

Tharptown started its week on Tuesday, October 7, with two games at Wilson High School against Hatton and the hosts. The Lady Wildcats defeat the Lady Hornets 2-0 (25-22, 25-21) before falling to Wilson 2-0 (19-25, 11-25).

THS wrapped up the regular season with two home matches—and two home wins—against Cherokee and Sheffield. Tharptown defeated Cherokee 2-0 (25-9, 25-17) before seeing off Sheffield in three sets (25-16, 21-25, 15-5).

Thursday evening served as Tharptown’s Senior Night, so the team’s five seniors left their home floor in winning fashion. Seniors Charlie Sue Montgomery, Malia McCullar, Leonela Vela Jaquez, Emily Perez Balverde, and Alyssa Fischer were recognized for their contributions to the THS volleyball program.

The Lady Wildcats are set to open the Class 2A Area 14 tournament against Covenant Christian at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15.

Belgreen’s seniors were recognized during the team’s Senior Night match against Phillips on October 6.

From left to right: Alayna Tate, Bryn Scott, Laura Seal, Carson Hovater, Isabella Tate, and Audree West.

Russellville senior Laila Hill recorded 25 kills in a five-set, come-from-behind win over West Point on October 7, helping the Lady Golden Tigers clinch home-court advantage in the area tournament and an automatic berth into the regional tournament.