Seven players from Class of 2024 now in collegiate programs:
GDW Analysis:
Local prep volleyball has gained the attention of the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) in recent years for recruiting talented players.
Wallace State Community College has been able to see it pay off tremendously.
In 2022, five players representing three local programs contributed to the Lady Lions winning the ACCC championship.
Three of the players, Lexi Shadix of West Point, Daisy Manasco of Fairview and Gracie Barksdale of Cullman earned all conference honors.
Other teams in the conference are doing what they can to recruit Cullman County players.
For 2024, half a dozen teams in the ACCC have a player that stood out last year in their final season in the prep ranks.
Wallace State went to Fairview, bringing Abby McDonald and Ava Calvarese to the squad. Both delivered a lot to the 2023 season as Fairview was solid on the floor in county matches and its area.
McDonald and Calvarese are not the only Fairview players still in the sport, now as collegiate participants.
Kabri Redding accepted an offer to go to Bevill State Community College while Laci Segrest is now at Wallace Community College Selma.
The four from one school in one year is the most Gameday Weekly has seen in analyzing.
West Point has been on a steady role with Lexi Shadix, Braelee Quinn and Ryleigh Jones competing their career at Wallace State. Quinn ended her career with a fine sophomore season as being named to the ACCC all conference team.
Liberty Shadix is the 4th West Point player in now the last 4 years to maintain the tradition of good volleyball personnel. Shadix has reported to Snead State Community College in Boaz, with her first season in ACCC volleyball about to begin.
From Cullman, Reese Patterson will be in a uniform for Calhoun Community College in Decatur. Patterson was a defensive specialist as she made an impact for the Lady Bearcats last season with the team getting to the 6A playoffs.
Holly Pond's Emma Earl is at Gadsden State Community College. Earl was part of a senior laden unit for the Lady Broncos in 2023.
That is seven players that graduated locally in the spring, now enduring the next part of their athletic lives.
Others were recruited but chose a different route after their walked off their high school campus with their diploma.
Another former standout awaits her 2nd year playing collegiate volleyball.
Bailey Keef of Good Hope was all county, all area and all state and also the winner of the Samantha Perdue award at the county tournament in 2022.
Keef is a sophomore at Mississippi College. She is to report for fall practice the following week with the Choctaws to open the 2024 season in early September.
Volleyball through the Cullman County system plus Cullman High is a location where good people enjoying the atmosphere of competition from late August to early November. Success has been on display for the last several years by Good Hope, West Point, Fairview, Holly Pond and Cullman in making runs through the AHSAA postseason.
These seven athletes provide the sport great recognition for the hard work they have shown and the reward is the opportunity to be a collegiate performer.
Photo of Ava Calvarese of Fairview in a pregame meeting vs. Cold Springs in October of 2023 from Joe Shults Gym. Also in the photo is Cierra Calvert (11) of Cold Springs.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
