Showing their Heart
- Updated: October 20, 2016
Sacred Heart, Donoho, Alexandria all qualify for the Elite Eight; Pleasant Valley, Weaver, Wellborn all see their seasons ends
Class 1A area rivals Donoho and Sacred Heart (cover) are among three Calhoun County teams that qualified for the Elite Eight Thursday.
By East Alabama Sports Today
HUNTSVILLE — Every team that makes it to the Elite Eight of the state volleyball tournament has an incredible story to tell about their road to get there.
The Sacred Heart Lady Cardinals are on their way to Birmingham after beating Spring Garden (3-2) and Southeastern (3-1) in two high-intensity matches Thursday in the Class 1A North Regional at the VonBraun Center.
The two victories Thursday guarantee them at least a .500 record when they head to the Crossplex next week. They take a 24-22 record into Friday’s 2 p.m. regional semifinal against Decatur Heritage.
The last time the Lady Cardinals went to state was 2012. None of the girls currently available to play were on that team.
“(The girls) are beyond excited,” coach Peyton van Ekris said. “It’s just a great opportunity for us to get to do this after all we went through this season.”
“All they went through” included losing two of their three seniors – Megan Lott (pinky) and Jarece Tillery (knee) – to season-ending injuries.
“To me, it just showed they are very determined to get what they want,” van Ekris said. “My juniors also stepped up and filled in that leadership role. Everyone stepped it up to do better.”
The injuries left Haley Shaw as the team’s only available senior. Van Ekris said she “played amazing” in both matches.
The Lady Cardinals beat Spring Garden – for the third time this season — 25-12, 24-26, 25-20, 15-25, 16-14, and Southeastern 25-18, 26-24, 25-27, 25-12.
Shaw had 27 kills in the Southeastern match, 25 kills, 14 digs and four blocks against Spring Garden. Jumoke Sanusi and Jayla Woods continue to play what’s been described as “very mature” volleyball; Sanusi had 19 kills and 53 digs in the two matches, while Woods had 79 assists. See their complete set of statistics below.
“We could’ve played a little better than what we did,” van Ekris said. “We decided to step it up during the match; that made it an even more happy moment.”
Donoho and Alexandria also qualified for the Elite Eight. The Lady Falcons, state runner-ups a year ago, defeated Cedar Bluff and Shoals Christian by 3-1 scores. Alexandria defeated Woodlawn 3-0 and Hayden 3-1.
Pleasant Valley and Weaver were eliminated in the 3A regional in the second round. Wellborn was eliminated in the first round.
Four Calhoun County team make their regional debuts Friday — Jacksonville, Oxford, Saks and White Plains.
Tori Stillwell and the Alexandria Lady Cubs qualified for the Class 5A Elite Eight with two victories Thursday. (Photos by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)
Here are the results of the Calhoun County teams in the North super regionals Thursday:
DONOHO (1A)
Defeated Cedar Bluff 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-9, 25-14)
Defeated Shoals Christian 3-1 (25-13, 25-17, 24-26, 25-14) to qualify for state
Plays Addison (39-10) tomorrow 2 p.m. in regional semifinals
SACRED HEART (1A)
Defeated Spring Garden 3-2 (25-12, 24-26, 25-20, 15-25, 16-14)
Defeated Southeastern 3-1 (25-18, 26-24, 25-27, 25-12) to qualify for state
Plays Decatur Heritage (41-10) tomorrow 2 p.m. in regional semifinals
South 1A state qualifiers: Isabella (34-3) vs. Pleasant Home, Ragland (22-15) vs. Kinston (17-12)
PLEASANT VALLEY (3A)
Defeated Sylvania 3-0 (25-8, 25-10, 25-18)
Lost to Lexington 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-20)
Finishes 41-9
WEAVER (3A)
Defeated New Hope 3-1 (25-23, 25-27, 25-13, 25-21)
Lost to West Morgan 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-22)
WELLBORN (3A)
Lost to Geraldine 3-0 (25-14, 25-4, 25-10)
ALEXANDRIA (5A)
Defeated Woodlawn 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-13)
Defeated Hayden 3-1 (25-11, 25-16, 21-25, 25-12) to qualify for state
Plays Lawrence County tomorrow at 2 p.m. in regional semifinals
North 5A state qualifiers: Alexandria (43-8) vs. Lawrence County (44-12), Guntersville (30-26) vs. St. John Paul II (36-26).
South 5A state qualifiers: Faith Academy vs. Briarwood Christian, Rehoboth (31-7) vs. St. Paul’s.
FRIDAY’S FIRST-ROUND MATCHES
x-Saks (4A Area 8 champion) – Ashford, 9 a.m. (winner vs. W.S. Neal-Hale County winner)
Jacksonville (4A Area 12 champion) – Priceville, 10:15 a.m. (winner vs. DAR-Oneonta winner)
Oxford (6A Area 13 champion) – McAdory, 11:30 a.m. (winner vs. Austin-Clay-Chalkville winner)
White Plains (4A Area 12 runnerup) – Danville, 11:30 a.m. (winner vs. Leeds-Sardis winner)
x-South regional
SACRED HEART STATISTICS (2-0)
(vs. Southeastern)
KILLS: Haley Shaw 27, Jumoke Sanusi 9, Jayla Woods 2, Jacque Beyerle 5, Mary Kate Middlebrook 5, Deborah Greene 5.
DIGS: Haley Shaw 19, Jumoke Sanusi 20, Jayla Woods 6, Jacque Beyerle 7, Mary Kate Middlebrook 2, Deborah Greene 13, Sophia Allen 7.
ACES: Haley Shaw 1, Jumoke Sanusi 2, Jayla Woods 1, Jacque Beyerle 3, Deborah Green 1.
BLOCKS: Mary Kate Middlebrook 2.
ASSISTS: Jayla Woods 44.
(vs. Spring Garden)
KILLS: Haley Shaw 15, Jumoke Sanusi 10, Jayla Woods 1, Deborah Greene 3, Mary Kate Middlebrook 1, Jacque Beyerle 5.
DIGS: Haley Shaw 14, Jumoke Sanusi 33, Jayla Woods 17, Deborah Greene 9, Mary Kate Middlebrook 3, Sophia Allen 6, Jacque Beyerle 11.
ACES: Haley Shaw 2, Jumoke Sanusi 2, Jayla Woods 1, Deborah Greene 1, Mary Kate Middlebrook 1, Sophia Allen 1, Jacque Beyerle 1.
BLOCKS: Haley Shaw 4, Jumoke Sanusi 1, Deborah Greene 3.
ASSISTS: Jayla Woods 35, Sophia Allen 1.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login