Varsity volleyball roundup: Belgreen, Russellville secure key area wins

Below is a breakdown of all the local varsity volleyball action from September 14-19:

Belgreen enjoyed a busy week, winning three solo matches, including two area contests, before competing at a Brooks-hosted tournament to cap the week.

On Monday, September 14, the Lady Bulldogs, led by Randi Terry’s nine kills, swept Waterloo 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-22). BHS followed it up the following day, Tuesday, with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-21) victory over area rival Red Bay. Lilliana Willingham led the Belgreen attack with 10 kills, and Terry had 14 digs defensively.

Belgreen continued play at home on Thursday with a non-area match vs. Phillips, earning another 3-0 sweep (25-23, 25-18, 25-20). Madison McKee finished the game with 10 kills and eight digs to lead the Lady Bulldogs.

BHS wrapped up the week on Saturday with tourney play at Brooks High School. Unfortunately the Lady Bulldogs’ three wins to start the week didn’t translate at Brooks as the team lost all four of its matches against West Limestone, Lawrence County, Central-Florence, and Wilson.

In its next match, Belgreen will face Cherokee on Monday, September 21, for the chance to clinch the top seed in the area.

Phil Campbell had a very solid week, winning five of its six matches.

PCHS began its week on Tuesday with a 3-0 victory over Phillips and followed it up on Thursday with two more wins over Tharptown, 2-0, and Shoals Christian, 2-1.

The Lady Bobcats wrapped up their week on Saturday, sweeping both Hamilton and Hubbertville 2-0 before falling to Winston County 2-0.

Phil Campbell will pick play back up on Monday, September 21, with an area match against Cold Springs.

Red Bay saw split results in its two matches of the week.

The Lady Tigers lost their area contest against Belgreen 3-0 (19-25, 21-25, 21-25), but they managed to rebound on Thursday night with a 3-1 road area win at Cherokee to end the week on the right track.

RBHS is set to host area rival Waterloo for its next match on Monday, September 21.

Russellville opened its week on Monday with a five-set thriller vs. West Morgan, beating WMHS 3-2 (14-25, 25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 15-9). The Lady Golden Tigers were led by Blevyn Sappington’s 15 kills and three aces, Bri McCulloch’s 21 assists, and Alexia Groce’s 23 digs.

RHS continued competition on Thursday with a big area game against Muscle Shoals, which the Lady Golden Tigers won 3-1 (25-27, 25-23, 25-17, 25-22) after dropping the first set. Sappington once again led the attack with a team-high 17 kills in the win, while McCulloch added 26 assists and eight aces, and Samantha Wilson had five blocks.

Russellville concluded its week at the Brooks Invitational on Saturday winning three of its first four matches before being eliminated by Lauderdale County.

The Lady Golden Tigers beat Mars Hill 2-0 to start play, lost their next match to Lexington 2-0, but then rebounded to defeat Hatton 2-0 and Brooks 2-1. Lauderdale County knocked out RHS 2-0 to end the team’s week with a 16-15 overall record for the campaign.

In the five games of the tournament, Sappington recorded 33 total kills, McCulloch had 44 digs and 49 assists, and Wilson recorded 14 blocks.

Tharptown opened the week on Tuesday with a tri-match vs. area rival Sheffield and then against Cherokee. The Lady Wildcats swept both matches, earning a 3-0 win over Sheffield before toppling Cherokee 2-0.

THS finished off its week on Thursday with a 2-0 defeat at the hand of Phil Campbell and a contest played vs. Shoals Christian.

Vina started its week on Tuesday with two games vs. Huntsville Christian Academy and saw split results. The Lady Red Devils beat HCA 2-0 (25-17, 25-18) in the first game, but fell in the second 2-0 (17-25, 20-25).

VHS ended its week on Thursday with an area match against power Addison, falling 3-0.

Vina is scheduled to play Brilliant in its next match on Tuesday, September 22.