AHSAA AREA VOLLEYBALL: PCA tops ACA for area tourney title
Prattville Christians won the 3A, Area 6 volleyball tournament on Wednesday. (Contributed)
By TIM GAYLE
PRATTVILLE -- Prattville Christian swept Alabama Christian in straight sets to win its first-ever Alabama High School Athletic Association area tournament on Wednesday in the Prattville Christian gym.
From 2012 through 2019, Prattville Christian was in the same area as perennial power Montgomery Academy and in 2020-21 was matched with Catholic and Trinity, the latter of which eliminated the Panthers in the area tournament last season, snapping a nine-year streak of super regional appearances.
On Wednesday, PCA defeated Dadeville 25-15, 25-7 and 25-10, while Alabama Christian swept Beulah in the semifinals of the 3A Area 6 tournament. In the finals, PCA defeated ACA 25-19, 25-16 and 25-19.
Hannah Jones was named the most valuable player of the tournament, while teammates Coco Thomas and Baylee Rogers earned all-tournament honors along with the ACA duo of Alyson Thornton and Annabelle Pugh.
Rogers had 41 assists, a kill, 10 aces and nine digs, while Jones had 12 kills, six aces, a block and 12 digs and Thomas had 12 kills, three blocks and four aces.
Sally Swindall had seven kills and two blocks, Emma Cate Carter had 14 kills, an assist, five aces and six digs, Avery Rogers had four assists, two aces and seven digs, Brylee Byrd had two aces and 10 digs, Natalee Wheeler had an assist and three digs, Laura Beth NeSmith had a pair of blocks, Leah Cate Wilson and Kyra Sims had one kill each, Savannah Lamar had a dig and Morgan Fowler had an assist.
“I am so proud of our girls for winning the area tournament,” PCA coach Kaylon Cantrell said. “This is the first time that PCA’s volleyball program has come out of the area tournament on top since we've been in the AHSAA so that makes it even more special for us. These girls have worked so hard this season -- they’ve put in so much time, effort and hard work -- and it’s exciting to see that pay off!
“We’ve got more work to do as we head into next week, but I have no doubt that they will put in the effort and be ready to do whatever it takes next Thursday.”
PCA (32-18) will be making its 10th appearance in the South Super Regional since the current regional format was adopted in 2012. The Panthers will face Mobile Christian in the Multiplex on Thursday at 9 a.m.
ACA will play St. Luke’s in the opening round of the South Super Regional on Thursday at 10:15 a.m.
AHSAA VOLLEYBALL AREA TOURNAMENTS
CLASS 7A AREA 3
At Enterprise, Wednesday
Prattville 3, Robert E. Lee 0
Enterprise 3, Prattville 0
Dothan 3, Jeff Davis 0
Championship, Enterprise 3, Dothan 0
CLASS 6A AREA 3
At Wetumpka, Thursday
Wetumpka vs. Sidney Lanier, 3 p.m.
Stanhope Elmore vs. G.W. Carver, 4:30 p.m.
Championship, 6 p.m.
CLASS 6A AREA 4
At Pike Road, Thursday
Pike Road vs. Park Crossing, 4 p.m.
St. James vs. Russell County, 5:15 p.m.
Championship, 6:30 p.m.
CLASS 5A AREA 4
At Brewbaker Tech, Wednesday
Charles Henderson 3, Greenville 2
Championship, Brew Tech 3, Charles Henderson 0
CLASS 5A AREA 6
At Montgomery Academy, Wednesday
Demopolis 3, Selma 0
Championship, Montgomery Academy 3, Demopolis 0
CLASS 5A AREA 7
At Eclectic, Wednesday
Elmore County 3, Holtville 0
Marbury 3, Tallassee 1
Championship, Elmore County 3, Marbury 0
CLASS 4A AREA 4
At LAMP, Thursday
Dallas County vs. Wilcox Central, 3 p.m.
Championship, LAMP vs. Dallas County-Wilcox Central winner, 4 p.m.
CLASS 4A AREA 5
At Catholic, Thursday
Championship, Trinity vs. Catholic, 5 p.m.
CLASS 3A AREA 6
At Prattville Christian, Wednesday
Prattville Christian 3, Dadeville 0
Alabama Christian 3, Beulah 0
Championship, Prattville Christian 3, Alabama Christian 0