Lady Bulldogs endure a day of championship volleyball:
GDW Analysis:
GOOD HOPE: Opening weekend of the new AHSAA volleyball season featured two tournaments hosted by Cullman County schools.
While Vinemont had 5 varsity and 5 junior varsity teams on campus, Good Hope Gymnasium was very active Saturday in its event as 10 high schools spent the day of intense competition.
When the championship match was done at 8:29 p.m., the Priceville Lady Bulldogs went undefeated, claiming the top prize by sweeping Madison County in the title match 25 to 15 and 25 to 18.
The host, Good Hope, had a good day, winning its first three matchups in 2 to 0 sweeps of St. Clair County, Westminster and Haleyville.
Good Hope lost to Madison Academy in its final match of play from Pool A to finish 2nd and get into the Final Four segment.
The Lady Raiders fell in the semifinals to Priceville while the other semi was a hotly contested match that went to a tiebreaker between Madison County and Madison Academy.
Madison County put Madison Academy out, winning the 3rd set in a 15 to 9 final.
The first weekend of the new season for Good Hope started strong.
On opening day, the Lady Raiders defeated Hayden 2 to 0 and then prevailed in a tiebreaker with county rival Holly Pond 2 to 1.
Natasha Holder's Lady Raiders were very glad to get back senior Jolee McHan after she had knee surgery earlier in the year.
She was given clearance by doctors August 1 and is working her way back to provide support.
Being an impact player for she is in her last season for the Lady Raiders, McHan is part of a group that has experience in the quest to maintain success Good Hope has gone through with 66 wins and 24 losses between the 2022 and 2023 season.
Good Hope utilizes McHan, plus Mattie Wix, Chloe Eisner and Macie Denton as seniors, then the experience of juniors Lexi Marshall, Campbell Koch and Carley Adams.
Before the finale in round robin with Madison Academy, the Lady Raiders had won five straight assignments, with four being 2 to 0 sweeps.
Good Hope and Priceville have a well known rivalry, but one thing is different for this volleyball season.
Priceville has moved up to Class 5A with Good Hope staying in 4A play. The Lady Raiders have been placed in Area 13 by the AHSAA for the next two years and will share this with Danville, East Lawrence and West Morgan.
Priceville has to face four other schools in Area 16 of 5A. They are Brewer, East Limestone, Westminster and Ardmore.
With a .714 winning percentage after opening weekend, Good Hope now looks to tri matches the upcoming week on the road.
The Lady Raiders will play Boaz and New Hope Monday at New Hope.
On Thursday, a short drive for the Lady Raiders to Bearcat Arena for a tri match vs. Austin and Cullman.
Priceville made its name as did Decatur in coming to Cullman County on opening weekend of the 2024 regular season and winning an invitational championship.
While Priceville was tops at Good Hope, Decatur journeyed to Vinemont and went 4 & 0 in the Vinemont Invitational. The Red Raiders closed out the assignment in posting two victories against Vinemont.
Photo of the Priceville Lady Bulldogs in coin toss prior to championship match vs. Madison County at the Good Hope Invitational Saturday evening.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
