Story By Heath Hambrick
This week, volleyball takes center stage as action starts Thursday in DeKalb County.
The Fort Payne Lady Wildcats are in action first, as they travel to Locust Fork on Thursday to begin year two under the leadership of Head Coach Heather Powell. The Lady Wildcats return Lydie Varnadore, Carley Cash, Bailey Templeton, and Alyssa Cooper to a squad that finished the 2024 season 25-22.
In 2024, Fort Payne finished as area runner-up and lost to Oxford in the first round of the regional tournament. With a core group returning, the Lady Wildcats are looking to have a great year.
The Plainview Lady Bears open the 2025 season this Thursday with a home match against the Crossville Lions. Head Coach Skyla Gray enters her 11th season as the Lady Bears' head coach with a career record of 340-100-2.
Plainview finished the 2024 season with a 28-23 record, area runner-up, and a loss to Central-Florence in the regional tournament. Returning this season for the Lady Bears are seniors Sagan Jackson, Faith Odom, Charlie Richey, Miley Dukes, along with Kella McCurdy and Jaxon Bruce. Plainview, the four-time defending county champions, looks for another outstanding season.
The Geraldine Lady Bulldogs, under the leadership of Head Coach Renee Bearden, who is entering her eighth season as head coach with a record of 240-113, open the 2025 season Thursday with a tri-match at home against 4A-New Hope and 6A-Southside.
Last season, the Lady Bulldogs finished with a 29-25 record, area champions, and advanced to the Elite Eight, where Geraldine fell to State Champion Mobile Christian. The Lady Bulldogs look to build on the 2024 season and make another trip to the state tournament.
The Fyffe Lady Devils and Head Coach Meagan Bryant open the 2025 season Tuesday, Aug. 26, on the road at Ider. Fyffe finished the 2024 season 14-11 before falling in the area semi-finals.
The Ider Lady Hornets begin their second season under Head Coach Hannah Cornett Thursday night on the road at Sylvania. Ider looks to build on the 2024 season that saw the Lady Hornets win the area championship and finish runner-up in the regional tournament before falling in the Final Four to state champion Spring Garden. Ider finished 2024 with a record of 24-16.
With a group of seniors returning, led by Makinley Traylor, the Lady Hornets are looking at a great season in 2025.
The Sylvania Rams, with new Head Coach Andrea Berry, open the 2025 season at home against Ider this Thursday. The Rams are coming off a 26-23 season in 2024 that saw them fall to Ohatchee in the opening round of the regional tournament.
The Collinsville Lady Panthers also have a new head coach this season. Ali Moses takes over the volleyball program this season. Collinsville opens the season Thursday on the road at 6A Gadsden City.
Collinsville finished the 2024 season with a record of 5-9. Coach Moses and the Panthers look to improve on that record this season.
Valley Head opens the season Tuesday, August 26, at home against Gaylesville. The Crossville Lions open the season Thursday at Plainview.
