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Kyle Parmley
Chelsea Volleyball
Chelsea's Victoria Schmer, left, was named first team All-South Metro.
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Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
Jules Hamer (29) hits the ball during a match against Jefferson Davis High School on Aug. 30 at Chelsea High School. The Lady Hornets won the first two sets to win the match.
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Kyle Parmley
Hoover vs. Oak Mountain Volleyball
Oak Mountain's Leah Nielsen (12) celebrates during a match between Hoover and Oak Mountain on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, at Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham.
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Kyle Parmley
Oak Mountain Volleyball
Oak Mountain's Maddie Moss (5) sets during a Class 7A, Area 5 tournament match between Oak Mountain and Thompson on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, at Hoover High School.
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Sarah Finnegan
Briarwood Volleyball 2018
Kaley Bruce (32) sets the ball during a Class 5A, Area 8 tournament match between Briarwood and Ramsay on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, at Ramsay High School in Birmingham.
The 2018 high school volleyball season has come and gone, with many outstanding players putting together seasons worthy of honoring in the first All-South Metro Team from Starnes Publishing.
From the 12 schools in the Starnes Publishing coverage area, Mountain Brook and Hoover high schools reached the state tournament, with both teams advancing to the Class 7A semifinals. Briarwood, Chelsea, Clay-Chalkville, Homewood and Spain Park each advanced to the super regional tournaments.
Mountain Brook outside hitter Grace Carr is the All-South Metro Player of the Year, as the junior helped lead the Spartans to a 46-11 record and semifinal appearance. She was named the MVP of the Back to Boro tournament in Siegel, Tennessee, on Sept. 15, as the team won all seven of its matches over the weekend. For the season, Carr tallied 599 kills, 445 digs, 46 blocks and 71 aces.
Hoover’s Chris Camper is the All-South Metro Coach of the Year following a season in which the Bucs posted a 39-11 record and also made it to the semis. He has led the Hoover program to the Elite Eight portion of the state tournament each of the last six seasons, including a pair of runner-up finishes.
FIRST TEAM
Outside hitter: Grace Carr, junior, Mountain Brook; led the Spartans with 599 kills, 445 digs, 46 blocks and 71 aces.
Outside hitter: Rya McKinnon, freshman, Hoover; led the Bucs offense with 526 kills, 228 digs, 52 blocks and 51 aces.
Outside hitter: ShaKevia Hogan, senior, Spain Park; helped lead Jags to first super regional appearance under coach Kellye Bowen and finished season with 366 kills, 371 digs, 48 blocks and 37 aces.
Outside hitter: Hannah Vines, senior, Vestavia Hills; helped lead Rebels to a 21-9 record and finished with 342 kills, 226 digs, 38 aces, 23 blocks and 18 assists.
Setter: Ann Vandevelde, junior, Mountain Brook; excelled in her first year as the primary setter, racking up 1,242 assists, 455 digs, 28 blocks and 36 aces.
Setter: Amiyah King, senior, Hoover; selected as team’s floor captain and led the Bucs with 1,240 assists, 256 digs, 56 blocks, 52 aces and 26 kills.
Libero: Victoria Schmer, junior, Chelsea; surpassed 1,000 career digs in her career and finished the season with 792 digs and 132 aces.
Middle hitter: Ellie Dayhuff, junior, Mountain Brook; racked up 304 kills and 106 blocks on the season.
Right side: Allie DeSantis, senior, Spain Park; completed her Jags career with a great season, compiling 281 digs, 167 assists, 12 blocks, 59 aces and 26 kills.
Right side: Ainsley Schultz, junior, Vestavia Hills; also set for the Rebels and finished the year with 232 kills, 573 assists, 183 digs, 44 aces and 44 blocks.
SECOND TEAM
Outside hitter: Jules Hamer, senior, Chelsea; tallied 373 kills, 392 digs and 61 blocks in her final season, as she completed her career with 1,242 kills.
Outside hitter: Zoe LaBreche, junior, Chelsea; racked up 298 kills, 355 digs and 77 aces for a strong Hornets team.
Outside hitter: Alejandra Loo, senior, Homewood; helped lead the Patriots to an 18-12 record, one win away from the state tournament, as the team’s lone senior.
Outside hitter: Leah Nielsen, senior, Oak Mountain; concluded her stellar career with 366 kills, 142 digs, 86 blocks and 38 aces.
Middle hitter: Gabbi Essix, sophomore, Hoover; solidified the middle for the Bucs, posting 331 kills, 112 blocks, and 32 digs on the year.
Middle blocker: Paris Morris, junior, Spain Park; a steady force for the Jags, piling up 277 kills, 82 digs, 81 blocks and 66 aces.
Setter: Kaley Bruce, senior, Briarwood; one of two seniors for the Lions, as she had 364 set assists and 223 digs on the season.
Setter: Maddie Moss, senior, Oak Mountain; put together an impressive year despite missing four weeks, with 462 assists, 162 digs, 63 kills and 41 aces.
Libero: Elise Hoppenjans, senior, Vestavia Hills; racked up 422 digs, 61 assists and 30 aces in her final season.
Libero: Liz Vandevelde, junior, Mountain Brook; posted an impressive 671 digs, 70 assists and 43 aces.
HONORABLE MENTION
Outside hitter: Anna Grace Pattillo, Briarwood; Hope Wright, Chelsea; Trenity Wilson, Hewitt-Trussville; Lauren Charles, Clay-Chalkville; Audrey Rothman, Spain Park
Libero: Audrey O’Brien, Briarwood; Reece Smith, Clay-Chalkville; Susanne Bouler, Hewitt-Trussville; Mackenzie Martin, Hoover; Lexie Fowler, Spain Park; Somer Underwood, Pinson Valley; Amelia Ragusa, John Carroll; Mary Quinn Carter, Vestavia Hills
Middle: Anna Virginia Fagan, Hewitt-Trussville; KaMya Hampton, Pinson Valley; Olivia Stark, Spain Park; Jackie Venable, Vestavia Hills; Emma Crawford, Briarwood; Sheliah Harris, Clay-Chalkville
Setter: Bailey Drew McIntyre, Chelsea; Sara Swee, Chelsea; Haley McElroy, Pinson Valley; Jessica Veal, Spain Park; Abby Wilson, Homewood
Right side: Caroline Raybon, Hoover; Mary Katherine Fowlkes, Mountain Brook
Defensive specialist: Maggie Gann, Vestavia Hills
Player of the Year: Grace Carr, Mountain Brook
Coach of the Year: Chris Camper, Hoover
Starnes Publishing produces seven monthly publications (280 Living, Hoover Sun, Village Living, The Homewood Star, Vestavia Voice, Cahaba Sun, Iron City Ink) and its sports coverage consists primarily of high school athletics at Briarwood, Chelsea, Oak Mountain, Spain Park, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Homewood, John Carroll, Hewitt-Trussville, Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley.
