HANCEVILLE – Fairview operated like a well-tuned machine Tuesday, winning the Cullman County volleyball tournament.
The top seed Lady Aggies defeated Good Hope in the winner's bracket final 25-16 and got them in the championship match 25-14, 25-11. Both assignments took 36 minutes for Fairview to claim its first county championship since 1999 and fourth in school history.
After Good Hope was sent to the loser's bracket, the Lady Raiders regrouped and ended Cold Springs' run in the tournament, taking the Lady Eagles in straight sets 25-17, 25-17.
Cold Springs pulled off an upset on Monday, eliminating No. 2 seed West Point 25-14, 27-25 to be a part of the "Big Three" on Tuesday at Lane Horton Gymnasium.
As the championship match began, Fairview got to the lead and never let it go. Serving was very good for Tracy Means' squad with Marissa Donohoo scoring five in a row that lifted the Lady Aggies to a 9-2 lead.
Tournament MVP Phoenix Janusas struck with a couple of kills early, setting the tone for how she would play in the final assignment for the tournament.
The best Good Hope could do was narrow it to 18-12 when a Fairview serve was out of bounds. Then the Lady Aggies regained the momentum on two service points and two kills from Janusas plus the game winning serve by Ally Hoagland with a kill from Abbi Taylor to end the opening set.
Alivia Boyll was hot to start the second set with nine consecutive service points and Fairview dashed to a 10-1 advantage. Good Hope got a little run and was able to draw within 13-8 on a kill by Sadie Abbott.
But Fairview answered the Good Hope challenge with McKinna Yearwood scoring the last four points on serve and the Lady Aggies went into a celebration with the student body that sat behind the bench.
Good Hope battled hard with good plays coming from Abby Burnette, Leyton Seal, Abbott, Chrissi Smith and Emma Pugh.
Fairview just executed better in serving and attacking the net, especially when they got the lead and saw the advantage grow, taking momentum away from the Lady Raiders.
Now 28-7, Fairview is scheduled to play a tri-match at Douglas Thursday then join Good Hope as a participant in the Cullman Pre-Area Tournament on Saturday.
The Lady Aggies will host the 5A, Area 12 tournament next Tuesday, meeting Curry in the first round while West Point plays Hayden. The winners advance to the finals and qualify for the Super Regional that will be next weekend in Huntsville.
Coach Samantha Bryson's Lady Raiders are headed for Cordova next Tuesday for the 4A, Area 10 Tournament following the assignment in Cullman on Saturday.
Good Hope has 12 wins on the season.
Coaches’ All-County Team:
- Maddie Oliver – Vinemont
- Taylor Martin – Holly Pond
- Mackenzie Carter – West Point
- Sadie Eddy – Hanceville
- Elizabeth Hill – Cold Springs
- Taylor Tankersley – Holly Pond
- Bailee Yearwood – West Point
- Claire Harbison – Cold Springs
- Chrissi Smith – Good Hope
- Ally Hoagland – Fairview
- Alivia Boyll – Fairview
- Ally Knight – Good Hope
- Abbi Taylor – Fairview
Most Valuable Player:
- Phoenix Janusas – Fairview
Samantha Perdue Winner:
- Claire Harbison – Cold Springs
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