AHSAA All-Star Sports Week | North All-Stars Claim Thrilling 3-2 Victory in Volleyball Showdown

MONTGOMERY, AL – In an electrifying display of talent, the North All-Stars edged out the South with a hard-fought 3-2 victory in the AHSAA Volleyball All-Star match held Thursday at the Cramton Bowl MultiPlex. The nail-biting sets concluded with scores of 23-25, 26-24, 23-25, and 15-9, marking an impressive win for the North, which now leads the series 16-10.

This match capped off the exciting 2024 All-Star Sports Week, a tradition that began with the inaugural all-star match introduced by the AHSAA in 1997.

From the outset, Thursday’s contest was a thrilling back-and-forth affair. North MVP Lauren Buchanan of Chelsea delivered a standout performance, recording two kills and two service aces in the decisive fifth set, finishing with a total of 13 kills. She was matched in scoring by Kennedy Vaughn of Bob Jones High School.

South MVP Elle McBride from Montgomery Academy led her team with 12 kills and nine digs, significantly contributing to the South’s efforts to push the match to five sets.

North coaches Jenny Jarrett (Bob Jones) and Whitney Welch (Alexandria) witnessed strong performances across the board. Jasmine Terry of Shades Valley High School added 10 kills and six digs, while KeAra Bowen from Huntsville contributed nine kills. Eevy Bellar of Hazel Green rounded out the attack with seven kills and five service aces. Setter Riley Lovell (Bob Jones) assisted with 26 sets and had five digs, while Cooper Garrett from Fort Payne recorded 23 assists and four digs. Sydney Durban of Hoover also made her mark with 16 digs.

The South, coached by Hall-of-Fame coach Julie Gordon of Montgomery Academy and Jennifer Graham of Enterprise, displayed their own depth of talent, with every set except the final one being decided by just two points. Setter Addi Vinson, also of Montgomery Academy, tallied 32 assists along with six digs. Hannah Pearce from Saraland showcased her all-around skills with 10 kills, seven assists, eight digs, and two blocks.

Further contributions came from Taylor Ismael (Spanish Fort), who posted 10 kills and three digs, and Paris McQuirter of McGill-Toolen Catholic with nine kills and four digs. Setter Sophia Saxon of Saraland added 15 assists to her team’s performance.

The match opened with the South taking a fiercely contested first set, 25-23, largely thanks to the combined efforts of McQuirter, McBride, and Ismael, each contributing five kills. McBride also served up three aces during this set.

The North kept pace, with Buchanan and Vaughn each netting four kills. In the closely fought second set, Bowen’s athleticism shone as she and Vaughn continued to press forward. After several lead changes, the North rallied to secure a narrow 26-24 victory, thanks to key plays from Terry.

Both setters made significant contributions, with Lovell amassing 12 assists for the North and Vinson notching 18 for the South after two sets.

In the third set, Bellar’s early ace gave the North some initial momentum, but Vinson quickly responded to reclaim the serve. Terry’s skill at the net helped the North establish a 13-5 lead. The South, however, fought back, and with Vinson’s efforts, they eventually tied the set at 23-all. A serving error handed the North the lead back, allowing them to claim the set 25-23 and take a 2-1 advantage.

The fourth set saw the South battle back, successfully tying the match with a 25-23 win, forcing a decisive final set.

The thrilling volleyball all-star competition wrapped up the AHSAA’s All-Star Sports Week, showcasing the incredible talent and competitive spirit of Alabama’s high school athletes.

Featured Image: North All-Star volleyball team.  (David Holtsford | AHSAA Photo)