BIRMINGHAM – A loss in the North Super Regional volleyball finals to Decatur Heritage got the attention of the Addison Lady Bulldogs.
In their appearance Wednesday in the Class 1A state tournament at the Crossplex, the Lady Bulldogs took care of business with straight set victories over Pleasant Home in the quarterfinals and Isabella in the semifinals.
That sends the No. 1 team in the 1A rankings to the championship series Thursday at Bill Harris Arena at 8 p.m. vs. the winner of the semifinal between Decatur Heritage and Donoho.
Decatur Heritage was the team that knocked off Addison in the Super Regional championship. Addison qualified for the trip to Birmingham by winning in the round of 16, then the quarterfinals, followed by a victory in the semifinal round.
Now the Lady Bulldogs go to championship play at 42-19 in search of their second state title in as many years under coach Kayla Woodard. The school has eight state championships to its credit since 2004, with seven under the command of Pam Wilkins.
Wilkins retired last season and gave the reins to Woodard, a former Lady Bulldog, who has won state titles as a player and as a coach and is looking for a repeat performance.
Addison topped Pleasant Home in the quarters 25-15, 25-8, 25-6 behind Abbie Chambless with 19 kills and 14 blocks in the match. Makenzie Chambless had eight kills with Cecilia Gaither handing out 24 assists.
The Lady Bulldogs were tested by Isabella in the semifinal round. The Lady Bulldogs were able to hold off the opponent and win 25-19, 25-19, 25-18.
The Chambless sisters and Gaither were again at their very best when they were needed.
Addison is not the only school from Winston County to be going for a state championship. Winston County joins the Lady Bulldogs as they pulled it out in a 5-game semifinal in Class 2A, winning the tiebreaking set over Fyffe 15-13.
Winston County was down two sets to one when the Lady Jackets rallied in game four by the score of 25-10 and then took down the Red Devils to punch their ticket to the championship against St. Luke's.
Winston County will play at 8 a.m. Thursday as seven champions will be crowned by the AHSAA, ending the 2016 volleyball season with Addison in the finale.
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