Three schools with new coaches when 2024 season starts:
GDW Analysis:
Gameday Weekly continues to keep everyone abreast of coaching changes in the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA).
When the new volleyball season starts in late August, three local schools will be under the leadership of new personnel.
The latest change became official last week from West Point.
Meagan Cagle is now in command of the Lady Warriors. She takes over the team that was coached the past two years by Kate Kent.
Cagle handled the Cullman Lady Bearcats from 2017 through 2022.
Her hard work was noted with Cullman improving in winning.
Her final two seasons displayed 30 wins and getting into the AHSAA playoffs as a 6A program. Cagle earned 102 victories with Cullman and had three winning seasons.
West Point lost all county standout Liberty Shadix to graduation.
The Lady Warriors will have experience coming back in the new season with Shadix's younger sister, Laklin, going into her sophomore season.
Others who made contributions in 2023 include Caitlee Simmons, Maci Brown, Charli Aris, Katie Beth Yovino, Adrianna Owens and Patton Fell.
West Point will be in Area 15 of Class 5A with Lawrence County and Russellville.
The other coaching changes will be at Cullman and Vinemont.
Cullman has hired Amy Hudson from Arab.
Hudson developed success right away with the Arabian Knights 130 victories in three years and back to back trips to the AHSAA 6A Final Four.
Hudson is like Cagle, coming into a new team with game experience. Cullman returns Ava Ray, Ava Colvard and Karina Harris and Lauren Katherine Granger, entering their senior season.
Another play that stood out under GDW analysis last season was Blakely Brannon, now a junior.
Cullman got 22 victories in the 2023 schedule with an upset of Class 1A power Addison being the highlight that was covered by GDW from Bearcat Arena in mid September. Cullman was coached by Katelynn Quigg for 2022 and 2023. Cullman will be in Area 13 of 6A the next two years with Jasper and Mortimer Jordan.
Well known of teaching and coaching the sport, Bobby Daniels now comes into Cullman County after coaching at Jasper High School for eight years.
Jasper took home the Class 5A championship trophy in 2019 and 2020. His best record in one year was 70 & 5 in 2019.
Daniels has put the Lady Eagles through spring workouts.
Six players will be replaced for graduating, including outstanding performers in Jana Harbison and Maggie Burks.
Seniors to be Carly Stephens, Aubrey Sandlin, Abby Kuykendall and Erin Anderson will look to set the tone in the start of the Daniels era.
Caroline Miller and Addison Holcomb enter their junior season.
Area play changes for Vinemont with the Lady Eagles in a 5 team 3A, Area 11. Vinemont will have county foes Hanceville and Holly Pond, plus from neighboring Blount County, JB Pennington and Locust Fork.
As of the present time, no other coaching changes have taken place for local volleyball.
These are the coaches at the following schools:
Cold Springs - Micah Means
Fairview - Katie Ball
Good Hope - Natasha Holder
Hanceville - Morgan Hammock
Holly Pond - Adrian Adams
St. Bernard - Elicia Fallin
Cullman Christian - Sydney Rowell
The AHSAA allows volleyball the month of July for playdays.
The first time teams can practice is August 5 with the season to begin on August 22.
GDW looks forward to reporting on playdays in July and the 2024 season with regular season play, the Cullman County tournament and the postseason.
Photo of Meagan Cagle when she coached volleyball at Cullman High School. Cagle is now the head coach at West Point.
Photo courtesy of Meagan Cagle.
