Pleasant Valley Claims AHSAA 2A State Volleyball Title
Birmingham, AL – In a thrilling finale at the Bill Harris Arena, Pleasant Valley High School clinched the AHSAA Class 2A state volleyball championship title, defeating Sand Rock in a decisive 3-0 victory. Under the steady leadership of Coach Dana Bryant, the Raiders celebrated a striking 25-13, 26-24, 25-18 triumph on Wednesday evening, marking their first state championship win since 1996.
The victory capped off a laudable season for Pleasant Valley, ending with a 40-12 record. It was an especially sweet win for Coach Bryant, who graduated from Pleasant Valley High in 1996, the last year the school clinched a state championship. The victory crowns a legacy that saw the Raiders secure five state titles between 1984-1997.
Junior Lily Henry stood out in the final game, leading the Raiders with 14 kills and 13 digs, earning the deserving title of 2A state tournament MVP. Supporting her strong performance were Allie Bryant with seven kills and 15 digs, Maddie Schwabe with 26 assists, five kills, nine digs, and four service aces, and Libero Madi Hay with 12 digs.
Despite the Raiders’ dominance, Sand Rock put up a spirited fight. Spearheaded by Katelyn St.Clair with 18 kills and 11 digs, Rylin St.Clair’s 20 assists, and Chloe Stephens’ team-high 13 digs, the team proved to be formidable opponents.
How fitting that the celebration was marked by a moving rendition of “Happy Birthday” sung by the Pleasant Valley crowd for their beloved coach. The prominent 47-year old Bryant, who has indicated she intends to transition into women’s ministry work, was also recognized alongside Sand Rock’s Coach Lisa Bates for their contribution to the 53rd AHSAA Elite 8 State Volleyball Championships.
The event will be concluded with the Class 1A, 4A, and 7A finals at the Birmingham CrossPlex Bill Harris Arena
CLASS 2A ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Lily Henry, Pleasant Valley (MVP); Madi Hay, Pleasant Valley; Maddie Schwabe, Pleasant Valley; Allie Bryant, Pleasant Valley; Katelyn St.Clair, Sand Rock; and Rylin St.Clair, Sand Rock.
AHSAA 53RD ELITE EIGHT STATE
VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Birmingham CrossPlex & Bill Harris Arena
WEDNESDAY’S FINALS AND TUESDAY’S RESULTS
CLASS 2A
FIRST-ROUND PAIRINGS
G.W. Long (31-8) 3, Donoho (28-25) 1 (25-22, 25-21, 27-29, 25-18)
Sand Rock (48-17) 3, Bayshore Christian (9-12) 0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-19)
Pleasant Valley (38-12) 3, Wicksburg (14-13) 1 (22-25, 25-9, 25-6, 26-17
Washington County (29-8) 3, Lexington (43-18) 1
SEMIFINALS
Sand Rock (49-17) 3, G.W. Long (31-9) 1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-18, 25-21)
Pleasant Valley (39-12) 3, Washington County (29-9) 0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-10)
2A Championship Match
Pleasant Valley (40-12) 3, Sand Rock (49-18) 0 (25-13, 26-24, 25-18)
CLASS 3A
FIRST-ROUND RESULTS
Mobile Christian (43-7) 3, Glencoe (18-39) 0 (25-10, 25-12, 25-15)
Geraldine (31-17) 3, Prattville Christian (33-20) (25-20, 25-14, 26-24)
Plainview (49-5) 3, Walter Wellborn (32-13) 0 (25-11, 25-10, 25-7)
St. Luke’s Episcopal (28-22) 3, Westbrook Christian (30-15) 0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-22)
SEMIFINALS
Mobile Christian (44-7) 3, Geraldine (31-18) 0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-8)
Plainview (50-5) 3, St. Luke’s Episcopal (28-23) 1 (25-23, 25-22, 17-25, 25-23)
3A Championship Match
Plainview (51-5) 3, Mobile Christian (44-8) 1 (25-19, 25-11, 15-25, 25-22)
CLASS 5A
FIRST-ROUND RESULTS
Montgomery Academy (51-6) 3, Brewer (31-27) 0 (25-8, 25-17, 25-12)
Lawrence County (48-17) 3, Sylacauga (33-20) 2 (25-27, 25-12, 25-22, 12-25, 15-3)
Alexandria (53-8) 3, Rehobeth (34-14) 0 (25-8, 25-15, 25-10)
Arab (47-13) 3, Gulf Shores (33-13) 0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-17)
SEMIFINALS
Montgomery Academy (52-6) 3, Lawrence County (48-18) 0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-18)
Arab (48-13) 3, Alexandria (53-9) 2 (25-17, 21-25, 22-25, 25-23, 19-17)
5A Championship Match
Montgomery Academy (53-6) 3, Arab (48-14) 1 (25-16, 23-25, 25-19, 24-14)
CLASS 6A
FIRST-ROUND PAIRINGS
Saraland (39-7) 3, Shades Valley (13-23) 0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-22)
Spanish Fort (61-9) 3, Fort Payne (38-17) 0 (25-13, 25-20, 25-22)
Mountain Brook (44-5) 3, McAdory (23-19) 0 (25-15, 25-9, 25-14)
Bayside Academy (46-9) 3, Oxford (41-16) 0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-19)
SEMIFINALS
Saraland (40-7) 3, Spanish Fort (61-10) 2 (25-19, 25-19, 18-25, 9-25, 15-14)
Mountain Brook (45-5) 3, Bayside Academy (46-10) 2 (25-17, 22-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-13)
6A Championship Match
Mountain Brook (46-5) 3, Saraland (40-8) 1 (25-15, 25-14, 26-28, 25-15)
WEDNESDAY’S CROSSPLEX RESULTS
CLASS 1A
FIRST-ROUND PAIRINGS
University Charter School (34-4) 3, Athens Bible (13-22) 0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-9)
Sumiton Christian (23-14) 3, Sweet Water (16-8) 0 (25-16, 25-8, 25-16)
Addison (41-8) 3, Elba (12-9) 0 (25-7, 25-13, 25-12)
Spring Garden (52-5) 3, Faith Christian (35-23) 0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-8)
1A SEMIFINALS
University Charter School (35-4) , Sumiton Christian (23-15) 1 (25-10, 22-25, 25-9, 25-90
Spring Garden (53-5) 3, Addison (41-9) 0 (25-20, 25-23, 26-24)
1A STATE FINALS.
University Charter School (35-4) vs. Spring Garden (53-5), Thursday, Nov. 2, 2 p.m.
CLASS 4A
FIRST-ROUND PAIRINGS
Montgomery Catholic (35-11) 3, Corner (28-7) 0 (25-13, 25-22, 25-14)
Deshler (41-18) 3, LAMP (28-15) 0 (25-10, 25-14, 24=5-14)
Madison County (49-13) 3, T.R. Miller (15-15) 0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-9)
UMS-Wright (27-12) 3, Cherokee County (34-18) 0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-16)
4A SEMIFINALS
Montgomery Catholic (36-11) 3, Deshler (41-19) 0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-12)
UMS-Wright (28-12) 3, Madison County (49-14) 1 (18-25, 25-14, 25-19, 26-24)
4A STATE FINALS.
Montgomery Catholic (36-11) vs. UMS-Wright (28-12), Thursday, Nov. , 10 a.m.
CLASS 7A
FIRST-ROUND PAIRINGS
McGill-Toolen Catholic (44-8) 3, Thompson (34-9) 0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-22)
Enterprise (40-9) 3, Spain Park (21-21) 2
Bob Jones (53-2) 3, Auburn (23-23) 0
Hoover (30-23) 3, St. Paul’s Episcopal (42-12) 0 (27-25, 25-18, 26-24)
7A SEMIFINALS
McGill-Toolen Catholic (45-8) 3, Enterprise (40-10) 0 (25-23, 25-7, 25-8)
Bob Jones (54-2) 3, Hoover (30-24) 2 (235-5, 25-14, 25-22)
7A STATE FINALS
McGill-Toolen Catholic (45-8) vs. Bob Jones (54-2), Thursday, Nov. 2, noon
