GDW Analysis:
HOLLY POND: Cullman County High School volleyball olds the longest venture in female athletics.
The 50th edition of the county tournament will be this week from Felton Easterwood Gym at Holly
Pond High School.
Volleyball has been in a championship status three years more than girls basketball. That sport
began county championship play in 1977.
It has become something that has great following to the schools involved, along with their coaches,
players and fan support.
In the last 10 years, four schools have excelled in the one week period of claiming the county title.
Cold Springs was the champion in 2014 with Good Hope in 2015, Fairview from 2016 to 2018, West
Point in 2019 and 2020 and Good Hope from 2021 to 2023.
Coaches such as Rosemary Brown from Good Hope, Tracy Means of Fairview and Regina Jones of
West Point have shown greatness with each now a member of the Cullman County Sports Hall of
Fame. Jones joined the HoF back in July, Means earned the honor the year before.
Looking at the 2024 county volleyball tournament:
A newcomer has emerged as the top seed. The Vinemont Lady Eagles compiled 6 wins in 6 decisions
to be the one looked at as a squad with the potential of winning it all. Vinemont has won 15 straight
matches and comes into the tournament 38 wins out of 43 assignments.
Vinemont will be on the floor Tuesday taking on the winner of the Good Hope vs. Holly Pond quarterfinal.
Good Hope, the three time county winner is 4th in the event with Holly Pond 5th.
Good Hope is in a slump for losing four matches last week, three in a quad match from Vinemont.
The Lady Raiders and Lady Broncos opened the season August 22 from Good Hope and the Lady
Raiders won it in a tiebreaker 2 games to 1.
Good Hope lost two matches last week in a tiebreaker to West Point and Vinemont as they went from
undefeated in county pairings to 4th overall.
Holly Pond will look to use home court in the quest of an upset and a shot at playing Vinemont.
West Point is 2nd. The Lady Warriors lost to Vinemont September 24 in the finale of the quad
match that gave Vinemont the top spot.
West Point has been on an upswing, winning 5 of its last 6 assignments before the weekend.
New coach Meagan Cagle has shown strong guidance and spirit with it coming at a critical
time of the season for the Lady Warriors.
West Point has 7th seed Cold Springs in the quarterfinal round.
A late season surge by Fairview put the Lady Aggies 3rd following the Vinemont quad match.
The Lady Aggies defeated Good Hope in two close sets, to go 4 & 2 in the county pairings.
Fairview faces Hanceville in the quarterfinal round.
Key people to watch for in the 2024 county tournament:
Vinemont: Carley Stephens, Morgan Flanagan. Addison Holcomb
West Point: Laklin Shadix, Macie Brown, Adrianna Owens
Fairview: Karlie English, Kensli Redding, Kailyn Redding
Good Hope: Jolee McHan. Carly Adams, Campbell Koch
Holly Pond: Blakely Baggett, Ava Thomas, Darla Frederick
Hanceville: Alex Twitty, Aliyah Twitty, Karys Henderson
Cold Springs: Cloe Shelton, Cheyenne Bishop, Hollyn Bruer
Tournament schedule:
2 West Point vs. 7 Cold Springs Monday 5:30
3 Fairview vs. 6 Hanceville Monday 5:30
4 Good Hope vs. 5 Holly Pond Monday 7:00
1 Vinemont vs. GH/HP winner Tuesday 6:00
WP/CS winner vs. FV/HV winner Tuesday 6:00
Championship Thursday 6:30
Photo of West Point players Kelsye Will (14), Macie Brown (18),
Bella Thornton (20) and Ak Taylor (21) in a recent match from
Jim Boyd Gym.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton
