Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Both the Pike Liberal Arts Lady Patriots and Ariton Lady Purple Cats traveled to Montgomery this week and competed in the Class 2A South Regional Volleyball Tournament.

Pike Lib knocked off Isabella in the first round by a score of 3-2 in a back-and-forth affair. Pike won the first set 25-19 and looked to be on its way to a sweep with a 25-19 win in the second set, but Isabella rallied to win the next two sets 26-24 and 25-19 to tie the match. In the fifth and final set, Pike took the match with a 15-8 win.

Anna Cate Friday tallied 11 kills, five blocks, four digs and one ace for the Lady Pats, while Riley Burkett earned 10 aces, one kill and five digs. Amy Ramage dished an eye-popping 36 assists with 16 digs and three kills, while Alissa Barron earned four aces, five kills and 16 digs. Camryn Brown totaled nine kills, 18 digs and two aces, while Haylie Brown earned 18 digs with two aces, one kill and three assists. Emma Baker totaled seven kills and Julianne Meyer earned six kills and three blocks.

In the 2A South Quarterfinals, Pike fell to Washington County by a score of 3-0 with Washington County taking all three sets 25-21, 25-12 and 25-15. Friday earned three kills, eight blocks and two digs, while Camryn Brown tallied five kills, 15 digs and one ace. Ramage totaled two aces, two kills, 10 assists, seven digs and one block. Haylie Brown chipped in with 16 assists and Burkett totaled eight digs and three aces.

Pike ended the 2024 season with a 15-9 record and won its third straight Area 3 Regular Season and Tournament Championships.

Also in the first round, Ariton swept Highland Home by a score of 3-0. Ariton took all three sets 25-22, 25-8 and 25-13 for the dominant win. Nya Allen led the Lady Cats with seven kills, one ace and two digs, while Madison Guilford earned five kills. Sarah Turvey chipped in with two aces, three kills and one block, while Audrey Ezell earned five kills, four blocks and one ace.

In the quarterfinals, Ariton fell to Horseshoe Bend by a score of 3-1. Horseshoe Bend won the first two sets 25-22 and 25-22. While Ariton rallied to take the third set by a score of 26-24, Horseshoe Bend captured the match with a 25-18 win in the fourth set.

Allen led Ariton with 11 kills, one block and one ace, while Avery Evans earned three aces, four kills and one block.

GW Long went on to defeat Tuscaloosa Academy in the South Regional Finals, while Washington County beat Horseshoe Bend in the third place match.