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Highly decorated Wakefield among honorees as Donoho marks senior night with two victories. Jacksonville , Munford, Oxford clinch right to host area tourneys. Alexandria, Faith Christian victorious.

Cover photo: Teammates present Donoho’s Sam Wakefield flowers during the Falcons’ senior-night celebration before their area match against Weaver on Tuesday. (Photo by Joe Medley)

By East Alabama Sports Today

ANNISTON — Donoho celebrated no ordinary senior during ceremonies before the Falcons’ Class 3A, Area 9 match against Weaver and non-area match against Geraldine on Tuesday,.

Samantha Wakefield stands with her father and mother, Bill and Deborah Wakefield, during Donoho’s senior night ceremony Tuesday. (Photo by Joe Medley)

The three-member senior class that includes Ryals Jones and Lindsey Brewer also featured Samantha Wakefield, one of Calhoun County’s most decorated athletes.

The volleyball/soccer standout became a volleyball starter in eighth grade. She’s started for three area-championship teams, three North Regional championship teams, two state-championship teams and one runner-up team.

She’s a three-time all-state player with a long list of all-tournament, area-MVP and All-Calhoun County honors to her credit.

She’s also helped Donoho’s girls’ soccer team reach the state Class 1A-3A final twice, most recently in May.

She entered Tuesday’s match with 2,365 career assists, 2,098 digs, 850 kills and 291 service aces.

“My career in Donoho volleyball has had many successes over my five years on varsity, but the best part of the entire journey was the incredible people I got to share it with throughout,” she said. “At the end of the day, I will not remember the wins and losses, but I will remember the locker room talks, when you laugh until you cry, or the funny jokes made at the net.

“The support I have had in my time here is unmatched, and the experiences and accomplishments I have had have shaped me to who I am today. Tonight I just embraced all the memories and took it all in. Although many people tell me I have had a great career, that’s not at all what I think about.”

Donoho beat Weaver 25-19, 25-9, 25-13 and Geraldine 25-16, 25-21 Tuesday. Wakefield contributed 20 kills, five aces, 22 digs and one block.

The Falcons improved to 25-12 with Tuesday’s two victories. The postseason lies ahead, and bumps up in classification through the AHSAA’s competitive balance rule for private schools have afforded the Falcons the chance to win state championships in Class 1A, 2A and 3A during Wakefield’s career.

“Our team this year is very special and very talented, and I hope to lead us back to the state tournament, and I would like to end my senior year with one more ring,” she said. “However, with that in mind, I’m focusing on the next game we play, because at this point in the season, I will not know which game will be my last.”

Jones added 12 kills, two blocks, one assist and one dig Tuesday, and Brewer added three aces and four digs.

Kate Williamon, seeing her first action since her maternal grandparents died as the result of a tractor accident, had eight kills, one assist, one ace and 13 digs.

Donoho’s other top performers:

—Callee Taylor: three kills, 50 assists, 14 digs, two blocks.
—Ava Michaels: nine kills, one assist, 11 digs.
—Bentlee Pahman: three assists, 11 digs.
—Chloe Melton: four digs.
—Alana Maldonado: nine kills, one block.
—Anna Kate Whitson: two aces, seven digs.

Donoho seniors on senior night (from left): Lindsey Brewer, Ryals Jones and Samantha Wakefield. (Photo by Joe Medley)

JACKSONVILLE: The Golden Eagles beat Lincoln 25-14, 25-11, 25-22 to finish 4-0 in Class 5A, Area 11 and clinch the right to play host to the area tournament.

Jacksonville’s top performers:

—Sydney Soriano: one ace, two kills, 24 assists, one block, one dig.
—Camryn Stone: 13 kills, five blocks, four digs.
—Mya Swain: one ace, six kills, one block, three digs.
—Nyla Hoult: seven kills, three blocks, two digs.
—Chloe Henderson: six digs.
—Alexis Phillips: one kill, one block, seven digs.
—Reese Rollins: four kills, two blocks.
—Imani Roberts: one dig.

OXFORD: The Yellow Jackets beat Pell City 25-22, 25-13, 25-12 in Class 6A, Area 11 play and clinched the right to play host to the area tournament. Oxford’s top performers:

—Payton Brooks: 28 assists, four kills, four aces, three digs.
—Taleah Powell: three kills.
—Ava Thomas: eight kills, eight digs.
—Daelyn Bozeman: seven kills, six digs.
—Mileah Prince: 12 kills.
—Jaslyn Montgomery: seven kills, two blocks.

PELL CITY: The Panthers’ top performers in the loss at Oxford.

—Ebonecia Forman: three digs, two kills. 
—De’Nadriya Moon: three kills. 
—Nyla Treptau: four digs, one block, one assist, two kills, two aces. 
—Brooklyn Rains: six blocks, one dig, three kills. 
—Ella Grace Haynes: one dig, three kills. 
—Taylor Stinnett: three digs. 
—JaAnna Johnston: three digs, nine assists. 
—Reese Tarver: two digs, eight assists. 
—Briley Goodgame: six digs. 
—Madison Graham: two digs, one block, five kills. 

ALEXANDRIA: The Valley Cubs beat Plainview 18-25, 25-13, 25-15, 25-10. Alexandria’s top performers:

—McKinley Cooper: five kills, two digs, one ace.
—Eryn Spradley: 24 kills, three aces.
—Cassidy Hartsfield: eight kills, two digs, one block, one ace.
—Kaden Pritchett: five kills, one dig.
—Landry Patterson: five digs, two aces.
—Zayley Mobbs: two digs.
—Shelby Morris: four digs, two aces.
—Charlee Parris: two assists, 14 digs, one ace.
—Sophie Martin: two kills, 36 assists, eight digs, one block, two aces.
—Cali Hess: two kills.

FAITH CHRISTIAN: The Lions beat Woodland 25-20, 25-15, 25-10. Faith’s top performers:

—Annie Ricard: 13 kills.
—Serenity Pate: 12 kills.
—Annalie Daniel: six aces, 17 digs.
—Kolee Cronan: four aces.
—Annie Ricard: four aces.
—Anna Kate Robertson: 24 assists, 16 digs.
—Cheyenne Rice: four blocks.

MUNFORD: The Lions won a Class 4A, Area 8 match at Handley 25-4, 25-5, 25-8 and clinched the right to host the area tournament. Munford’s top performers:

—Breanna Hailes: three aces.
—Raleigh Dew: four aces.
—Lauryn Brewster: seven kills.
—Mylie Stephens: two aces, 11 kills.
—Christiny Putnam: two kills.
—Alys Mosley: five kills.
—Kastin Lathem: five aces, 42 assists.
—Ashtyn Bishop: two aces, nine assists, one kill.
—Faith Jacobs: one kill, one block.
—Brooklyn Pressley: two aces, one assist.

PLEASANT VALLEY: The Raiders fell to Spring Garden 18-25, 19-25, 17-25. Pleasant Valley’s top performers:

—Lily Henry: seven kills, three blocks, 19 digs.
—Ella Parris: two kills, three blocks, one ace, 15 digs.
—Bella Uesry: one kill, one block, one dig.
—Cailey Almaroad: two kills, three blocks, 11 digs.
—Madison Schwabe: five kills, two blocks, one ace, nine digs, eight assists.
—Zalie Curvin: six digs.
—Hanna Henry: two digs.
—Elise Wheeler: one kill, one block, six digs, eight assist.
—Ava Washington: five digs, 11 assist. 
—Ellie Patterson: two blocks. 

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