Lady Cubs rule
- Updated: October 19, 2016
Alexandria doesn’t let a good record go to waste, books another trip to the regionals after taking down Etowah, Boaz in the Class 5A Area 13 tournament
Alexandria’s Taylor Spradley was named the tournament MVP after scoring 18 kills, 11 in the championship match, and eight blocks. On the cover, the Lady Cubs celebrate their title. (Photos by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
Winning area championships and playing in the regional tournament are just things the Alexandria volleyball team does, but it’s not something it takes for granted.
The Lady Cubs took an even more serious tone Tuesday. They were laying a 40-win season and No. 1 seed on the line and they weren’t about to let it all end there.
The Lady Cubs (43-8) secured another trip to the regionals by sweeping past Etowah and Boaz in straight sets to win the Class 5A Area 13 tournament. They take on Area 9 runner-up Woodlawn (17-12) in their regional opener Thursday at 11:30 a.m.
“We’ve had a great season so far and if we lose it now no one’s really going to remember the great record if we don’t do anything,” senior Tori Rae Stillwell said. “We’re just really trying to prove to everyone we are a great team and we’re just trying to get Alexandria volleyball back.”
The Valley Cubs were state runner-ups in 2011 and this year’s team may be the best they’ve had since then. They’ve been together a long time and, what coach Whitney Welch likes, is they do the little things well.
They’ve gone a little farther in the postseason every year. They didn’t get out of the area tournament in Stillwell’s freshman year, but they made the regionals the next year and lost in the first round and last year they were eliminated in the second round.
The stakes might have contributed to a sluggish opening-round showing against Etowah, but the Cubs got contributions throughout the roster to found a way to get through it. Welch was particular pleased with the play of Aubrey Pope and Kinley Gregoria.
Gregoria had 12 digs and two aces against Etowah, while Pope had four kills and four digs. In the title match against Boaz, Gregoria had 10 digs, while Pope had three kills and two blocks.
“I think our girls really understand what’s at stake here and I think there were a little bit of nerves so we have to clean that up,” Welch said. “Our older girls, they did fine but looked a little nervous, and our younger girls kind of picked it up, which is a good sign.”
Taylor Spradley was the tournament’s most valuable player. She scored 11 of her 18 kills in the championship match and had four blocks.
CLASS 5A AREA 13
FINALS: ALEXANDRIA 3, BOAZ 0
(25-17, 25-11, 25-16)
(Alexandria statistics)
KILLS – Taylor Spradley 11, Catelynn Howell 2, Tori Rae Stillwell 7, Aubrey Pope 3, Gracie Muncher 1, China Lane 1.
ACES – Catelynn Howell 1, Aubrey Pope 1, Gracie Muncher 1, Kinley Gregoria 2.
ASSISTS – Gracie Muncher 26.
SOLO BLOCKS – Taylor Spradley 4, Tori Rae Stillwell 2, Aubrey Pope 2, Savannah Locklier 1, China Lane 1.
DIGS – Taylor Spradley 1, Catelynn Howell 6, Tori Rae Stillwell 1, Aubrey Pope 2, Tori Pope 6, Gracie Muncher 3, Mattie Wade 2, Kaitlyn Harvey 1, Kinley Gregoria 10, China Lane 1.
ALEXANDRIA 3, ETOWAH 0
(25-17, 25-16, 25-15)
(Alexandria statistics)
KILLS – Taylor Spradley 7, Catelynn Howell 3, Tori Rae Stillwell 5, Aubrey Pope 4, Gracie Muncher 1, Kaitlyn Harvey 1, China Lane 3, Kendall Bumpus 2.
ACES – Gracie Muncher 2, Mattie Wade 3, Kinley Gregoria 2.
ASSISTS – Gracie Muncher 22.
SOLO BLOCKS – Taylor Spradley 4, Aubrey Pope 2, China Lane 1, Kendall Bumpus 1.
DIGS – Taylor Spradley 1, Catelynn Howell 4, Tori Rae Stillwell 1, Aubrey Pope 4, Tori Pope 6, Gracie Muncher 3, Mattie Wade 2, Kaitlyn Harvey 2, Savannah Locklear 3, Kinley Gregoria 12.
Alexandria’s Taylor Spradley and Kendal Bumpus (8) block the ball back over the net in their area championship match against Boaz. (Photo by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)
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