SUPER REGIONALS: MA completes sweep of 5A regional; Trinity falters
MA’s Emmy Sorrell returns shot in the Eagles’ regional win on Thursday. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
Montgomery Academy completed its run through the 5A South Super Regional on Thursday, blasting Gulf Shores 25-15, 25-18 and 25-9 to win its sixth consecutive regional championship at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl.
In the process, this year’s squad became only the second team in school history to reach the 50-win plateau, trailing the 2005 team that won 54 games.
Teams in 6A, 5A, 3A and 2A completed play in the super regional, while regional finals in 1A, 4A and 7A will take place today.
Montgomery Academy did not drop a set in four regional games, disposing of Jemison, Faith Academy, Rehobeth and Gulf Shores. The Eagles (50-6) will play Brewer in the opening round of the state volleyball tournament on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
In 3A, defending state champion Prattville Christian dropped its semifinal in four sets to St. Luke’s Episcopal, relegating the Panthers to the consolation game later in the day. PCA (34-19) defeated Walter Wellborn 3-0 to earn the third seed and will play Geraldine in the state tournament on Tuesday at 9 a.m.
In 6A, Saraland earned the top seed by stunning Spanish Fort in four sets in the semifinals and defending state champion Bayside Academy in four sets in the finals. In 2A, G.W. Long edged Bayshore Christian in five sets in the semifinals and Washington County in four sets to take the top seed in the super regional.
In 4A, defending state champion Catholic will face LAMP in a Friday semifinal at 10 a.m., assuring the finals of a local team. In the other semifinal, T.R. Miller will play UMS-Wright, which edged Trinity in five sets to end the Wildcats’ season. Both the consolation and championship matches will take place on Friday at 1 p.m.
In 1A, Sweet Water and Faith Christian will meet in one semifinal, while University Charter will play in the other against Elba, which turned back Billingsley in five sets. Both the consolation and championship matches will take place on Friday at 1 p.m.
In 7A, McGill-Toolen will face Auburn in one semifinal, while St. Paul’s Episcopal will play Enterprise in the other semifinal. Both the consolation and championship matches will take place on Friday at 1 p.m.
Trinity has rare early exit from Super Regional
In a back-and-forth match that lasted five sets, UMS-Wright scored five of the final seven points to edge Trinity 15-12 and eliminate the Wildcats from the South Super Regional on Thursday afternoon.
It marked Trinity’s earliest exit from the super regional since 2013 when the Wildcats were bumped from the postseason by Bayside Academy.
Since then, the Wildcats have reached the super regionals seven times in the last 10 years, earning a state tournament berth each time until Thursday.
Trinity (20-14) advanced to the second round earlier in the day with a 3-0 win over Sipsey Valley, but couldn’t earn the second-round win to qualify for the state tournament.
UMS-Wright (25-11) qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 2015.
Trinity had participated in the finals of the state volleyball tournament in each of the last three years, winning championships in 2020 and 2021 and finishing second to Catholic last season. By reaching the second round, the Wildcats will be elevated to Class 5A next season by Competitive Balance Factor.
AHSAA STATE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS
Birmingham CrossPlex
CLASS 6A
Game 1 -- Saraland (38-5) vs. Shades Valley (13-22), Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2 -- Fort Payne (38-16) vs. Spanish Fort (59-10), Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3 -- Mountain Brook (43-5) vs. McAdory (23-18), Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
Game 4 -- Bayside Academy (45-8) vs. Oxford (41-15), Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5 -- Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Game 6 -- Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Game 7 -- Finals, Wednesday, 2 :30 p.m.
CLASS 5A
Game 1 -- Montgomery Academy (50-6) vs. Brewer (21-21), Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.
Game 2 -- Lawrence County (47-17) vs. Sylacauga (33-19), Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.
Game 3 -- Alexandria (52-8) vs. Rehobeth (34-13), Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.
Game 4 -- Gulf Shores (33-12) vs. Arab (46-13), Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.
Game 5 -- Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Game 6 -- Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Game 7 -- Finals, Wednesday, 12:30 p.m.
CLASS 3A
Game 1 -- Mobile Christian (42-7) vs. Glencoe (18-38), Tuesday, 9 a.m.
Game 2 -- Geraldine (30-17) vs. Prattville Christian (34-19), Tuesday, 9 a.m.
Game 3 -- Plainview (48-5) vs. Walter Wellborn (32-11), Tuesday, 9 a.m.
Game 4 -- St. Luke’s Episcopal (26-22) vs. Westbrook Christian (31-14), Tuesday, 9 a.m.
Game 5 -- Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Game 6 -- Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Game 7 -- Finals, Wednesday, 10 a.m.
CLASS 2A
Game 1 -- G.W. Long (30-8) vs. Donoho (28-24), Tuesday, noon
Game 2 -- Sand Rock (47-17) vs. Bayshore Christian, Tuesday, noon
Game 3 -- Pleasant Valley (37-12) vs. Wicksburg, Tuesday, noon
Game 4 -- Washington County (28-8) vs. Lexington (43-17), Tuesday, noon
Game 5 -- Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Game 6 -- Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Game 7 -- Finals, Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.