McGill-Toolen Catholic Chases Fourth Straight Title at AHSAA Elite 8

55th AHSAA Elite 8 Volleyball Championships Begin Tuesday in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, AL – The 55th AHSAA Elite 8 Volleyball Championships are set to begin this week at the Birmingham CrossPlex, with McGill-Toolen Catholic High School aiming for a historic fourth consecutive state title. The action kicks off Tuesday, October 28, bringing 56 of the state’s top teams together for a thrilling single-elimination tournament.

McGill-Toolen, led by Coach Kate Wood, enters the state volleyball tournament on a remarkable 38-match winning streak after clinching the Class 7A South Super Regional title last week. The Dirty Dozen are not only defending their championship but also putting their impressive winning streak on the line as they pursue another blue map.

Six of the seven champions from the 2024 season are returning to defend their titles. The returning champions include Pleasant Valley (2A), Mobile Christian (3A), Prattville Christian (4A), UMS-Wright (5A), Spanish Fort (6A), and McGill-Toolen (7A). The tournament promises intense competition as five other teams strive to repeat their championship runs.

Tournament Format and Key Storylines

Each of the seven AHSAA classifications will feature eight teams competing in a single-elimination, best-of-five format. The tournament spans three days, with championships decided in the Bill Harris Arena.

• Classes 1A, 3A, and 5A: Quarterfinal and semifinal matches begin on Tuesday, with the championship matches scheduled for Wednesday.
• Classes 2A, 4A, 6A, and 7A: Quarterfinal and semifinal rounds will be held on Wednesday, followed by the championship finals on Thursday.

Coach Kate Wood of McGill-Toolen and Coach Gretchen Boykin of Spanish Fort are both on the verge of a significant milestone. A state title victory for either would place them in an elite group of AHSAA volleyball coaches who have won at least six state championships. This prestigious list is led by Bayside Academy’s Ann Schilling, who holds an incredible 28 state titles. Schilling’s Bayside team is also competing in the Class 7A tournament.

All matches from the AHSAA Elite 8 state tournament will be streamed live on the NFHS Network. Tickets are available for purchase at the door or online through GoFan.

Complete Tournament Schedule and Matchups

Here is the complete schedule for the AHSAA Elite 8 Volleyball Championships, with all matches taking place at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

Class 1A

• Quarterfinals: Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.
  • Leroy (11-11) vs. Meek (24-21)
  • Marion County (20-21) vs. University Charter School (27-8)
  • Appalachian (27-14) vs. Brantley (23-7)
  • Millry (24-9) vs. Addison (28-14)
• Semifinals: Tuesday, 4 p.m.
• Championship: Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. (Bill Harris Arena)

Class 2A

• Quarterfinals: Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.
  • Samson (17-11) vs. Pleasant Valley (32-14)
  • Covenant Christian (27-22) vs. G.W. Long (27-12)
  • Mars Hill Bible (37-12) vs. Tuscaloosa Academy (18-19)
  • Highland Home (16-11) vs. Winston County (29-13)
• Semifinals: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
• Championship: Thursday, 12:00 p.m. (Bill Harris Arena)

Class 3A

• Quarterfinals: Tuesday, 9 a.m.
  • Houston Academy (38-10) vs. Ohatchee (35-9)
  • Elkmont (14-17) vs. Mobile Christian (29-10)
  • Westbrook Christian (31-21) vs. St. Luke’s (28-10)
  • Northside Methodist (12-26) vs. Lauderdale County (36-18)
• Semifinals: Tuesday, 4 p.m.
• Championship: Wednesday, 10 a.m. (Bill Harris Arena)

Class 4A

• Quarterfinals: Wednesday, 12 p.m.
  • Geneva (26-12) vs. Alexandria (43-11)
  • Madison County (30-22) vs. Prattville Christian (35-12)
  • West Morgan (30-30) vs. Orange Beach (35-12)
  • St. Michael (13-18) vs. Cherokee County (48-9)
• Semifinals: Wednesday, 5 p.m.
• Championship: Thursday, 2 p.m. (Bill Harris Arena)

Class 5A

• Quarterfinals: Tuesday, 12 p.m.
  • Montgomery Catholic (30-12) vs. Brewer (41-19)
  • Boaz (41-19) vs. UMS-Wright (37-14)
  • Arab (31-27) vs. Briarwood Christian (37-7)
  • Faith Academy (34-13) vs. Guntersville (61-5)
• Semifinals: Tuesday, 6 p.m.
• Championship: Wednesday, 2:30 p.m. (Bill Harris Arena)

Class 6A

• Quarterfinals: Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
  • Saraland (35-8) vs. Homewood (24-19)
  • Oxford (29-18) vs. Spanish Fort (57-8)
  • Hartselle (47-14) vs. Spain Park (37-8)
  • Northridge (25-20) vs. Hazel Green (35-10)
• Semifinals: Tuesday, 6 p.m.
• Championship: Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. (Bill Harris Arena)

Class 7A

• Quarterfinals: Wednesday, 9 a.m.
  • St. Paul’s (28-15) vs. Austin (45-7)
  • Bob Jones (39-17) vs. McGill-Toolen (44-2)
  • Thompson (29-11) vs. Bayside Academy (32-17)
  • Enterprise (26-16) vs. Hewitt-Trussville (29-11)
• Semifinals: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
• Championship: Thursday, 10 a.m. (Bill Harris Arena)

FEATURED IMAGE: McGill-Toolen’s Catherine McClain celebrates qa point in last year’s Class 7A State tournament as the Dirty Dozen claimed the school’s straight state volleyball crown.  (AHSAA PHOTO | David Holtsford)