5A Volleyball | Arab and Westminster Christian advance to state title game

Birmingham, AL – The Arab Knights toppled Montgomery Academy in one semifinal game Tuesday, and Westminster Christian knocked off Gulf Shores in the other as both teams advance to the 52nd annual AHSAA Class 5A State Volleyball Championship game, which will be played at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Bill Harris Arena adjacent to the Birmingham CrossPlex.

CLASS 5A SEMIFINALS

ARAB 3, MONTGOMERY ACADEMY 1
The Knights (49-13) advanced to the state finals with the 25-21, 25-23, 19-25, 25-23 win over Montgomery Academy Tuesday at the CrossPlex. Laney Kelley and Karli Walker had 15 and 13 kills, respectively for coach Amy Hudson’s Arab squad.

Sami Kate Hudson had 19 digs and eight kills, Sydney Ferguson added six digs and eight kills, and setter Anna McFerrin had 42 assists, two aces and six digs. Libero Marisa Pope managed 21 digs.

No statistics were available from Montgomery Academy (44-7).

WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN 3, GULF SHORES 0
The Wildcats (46-9), last year’s Class 4A state champs, earned the chance for a repeat, this time in Class 5A.  Coach Holly Richards’ powerful front line dominated the semifinal straight-set 25-19, 25-13, 25-17 win over Gulf Shores.

Calli Tanielu totaled 18 kills and Meg Paparella had 15 to lead Westminster. The duo also combined for seven blocked shots, 24 digs and five service aces. Setter Paislee Shelton dished out 37 assists and had eight digs, and libero Rylee Sexton had 16 digs.

Gulf Shores (39-18), coached by Karen Atkins, was led by Lily Zlab with 13 kills and eight blocks. Julia Fisher added five kills and five blocks, and Macey Moore also had an outstanding game at setter.

AHSAA 52nd ELITE EIGHT STATE
VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Birmingham CrossPlex & Bill Harris Arena

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

CLASS 1A
QUARTERFINALS
Spring Garden (41-14) 3, Pleasant Home (18-13) (25-8, 25-18, 25-16)
Addison (44-10) 3, Kinston (16-16) (25-3, 25-10, 25-5)
Covenant Christian (35-18) 3, Brantley (25-12) (22-25, 25-13, 25-16, 25-9)
Meek (21-23) 3, University Charter School (25-8) (25-15, 25-20, 25-21)
SEMIFINALS
Addison (45-10) 3, Spring Garden (41-15) (25-19, 25-18, 15-13)
Covenant Christian (35-18) 3, Meek (21-24) (21-25, 25-28, 25-21, 25-21)
1A FINALS
Addison (45-10) vs. Covenant Christian (36-18) or Meek (22-23), Wed., 12:30 p.m.

CLASS 2A
Lindsay Lane (23-25) vs. G.W. Long (28-10)
Washington County (22-5)  vs. Donoho (41-14)
Pleasant Valley (34-15) 3, Tuscaloosa Academy (20-10) (25-9, 25-14, 25-20)
Bayshore Christian (22-21) 3, Fyffe (21-28) (25-22, 25-11, 25-16)
SEMIFINALS
G.W. Long (28-10) vs. Donoho (41-14), Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Pleasant Valley (34-15) vs. Bayshore Christian (22-21), Tuesday, 6 p.m.
2A CHAMPIONSHIP
Bill Harris Arena, Wed., 2:30 p.m.

CLASS 4A
QUARTERFINALS
Trinity Presbyterian (41-8) 3, Madison County (32-20) 0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-23)
Deshler (45-5) 3, Satsuma (22-14) 0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-23)
Orange Beach (33-10) 3, Priceville (28-14) 0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-19)
Montgomery Catholic (29-10) 3, West Morgan (40-15) 0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-16)
SEMIFINALS
Trinity Presbyterian (41-8) vs. Deshler (45-5), Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Orange Beach (33-10) vs. Montgomery Catholic (29-10), Tuesday, 6 p.m.
4A CHAMPIONSHIP
Bill Harris Arena, Wed., 4:30 p.m.

CLASS 5A
QUARTERFINALS
Gulf Shores (39-17) 3, Jasper (52-11) (19-25, 25-21, 16-25, 25-17, 15-11)
Westminster Christian (45-9) 3, Providence Christian (20-26) (25-15, 25-9, 25-12)
Arab (48-13) 3, Faith Academy (27-19) (25-15, 25-14, 25-14)
Montgomery Academy (44-6) 3, Lawrence County (35-24) (23-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-21)
SEMIFINALS
Westminster Christian (46-9) 3, Gulf Shores (39-18) (25-19, 25-13), 25-17)
Arab (49-13) 3, Montgomery Academy (44-7) (25-21, 25-23, 19-25, 25-23)
5A CHAMPIONSHIP
Westminster Christian (46-9) vs. Arab (49-13), Bill Harris Arena, Wednesday., 10 a.m.

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
at CrossPlex
CLASS 3A
QUARTERFINALS
Geraldine (32-16) vs. Prattville Christian (35-19), 9 a.m.
Opp (13-17)  vs. Ohatchee (32-16), 9 a.m.
Houston Academy (23-14) vs. Plainview (61-11)9 a.m.
Susan Moore (48-10) vs. St. Luke’s Episcopal (40-12), 9 a.m.
SEMIFINALS
Wednesday,  p.m.
4A CHAMPIONSHIP
Bill Harris Arena, Wed., 2:30 p.m.

CLASS 6A
QUARTERFINALS
Hazel Green (39-21) vs. Bayside Academy (50-13) , Wed., 10:30 a.m.
Northridge (36-14) vs. Mountain Brook (49-12) , Wed., 10:30 a.m.
Pelham (38-16) vs. Hartselle (34-13) , Wed., 10:30 a.m. 
Oxford (24-2) vs. Spanish Fort (44-16), Wed., 10:30 a.m.
SEMIFINALS
Wednesday, 6 p.m.
4A CHAMPIONSHIP
Bill Harris Arena, Wed., 2:30 p.m.

CLASS 7A
QUARTERFINALS
Sparkman (45-12) vs. St. Paul’s Episcopal (34-12), Wed., noon
Auburn (22-15) vs. Bob Jones (46-10) , Wed., noon
Enterprise (41-8) vs. Hoover (35-16) , Wed., noon
Huntsville (34-13) vs. McGill-Toolen Catholic (48-8) , Wed., noon
SEMIFINALS
CrossPlex, Wednesday, 5 p.m.
4A CHAMPIONSHIP
Bill Harris Arena, Thursday, 2 p.m

(AHSAA PHOTO | Marvin Gentry)