No. 2 Eagles stun No. 1 Cats in 4A state finals

BIRMINGHAM — Halloween turned into a nightmare for the top-ranked Guntersville volleyball team.

The Wildcats (46-21) claimed the first two sets of the Class 4A championship match against No. 2 Jacksonville (38-14), but the Eagles stormed back to win three straight sets and take home their first state crown since 2008.

The dramatic match took place Thursday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

Guntersville reached the state finals for the fifth time in six years. Over the past 10 seasons, the Wildcats have won five titles (2004, 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2011). They also finished second in 2008.

“Hats off to Jacksonville,” said GHS head coach Jimmy Latta. “Anytime Jacksonville and Guntersville play, it’s a great match.

“It’s going to be a classic every time we play, and it doesn’t matter if it’s the regular season or the postseason. When you get it in the finals, it even amps up a few more decibels.”

The Wildcats beat Jacksonville in both previous meetings this season, including the 4A North Super Regional finals Oct. 26.

“Coach (David) Clark does a great job with those kids,” Latta said. “Katie Neisler stepped up down the stretch and pretty much took that team on her shoulders. That’s a special family.”

Neisler was selected the tournament’s most valuable player. She collected a match-best 24 kills and added five blocks and five digs.

The Wildcats posted a 25-18 decision in the first set and a 25-14 triumph in the second set.

Jacksonville used a 5-0 run to break an 11-11 tie and gain the momentum in the third set. The Eagles secured a 25-18 win.

The epic fourth set will be remembered as one of the best in Elite Eight history.

The Cats appeared on their way to victory following a 9-0 run that propelled them to a 10-2 advantage.

But Jacksonville refused to fold, fighting back to grab an 18-17 lead.

Anna Wright’s kill gave the Wildcats a 23-21 edge, putting them two points away from match point.

Jacksonville forced a 23-23 tie, setting the stage for a fantastic back-and-forth finish where the tension seemed to magnify with every play.

The Eagles took a 25-24 lead, but GHS knotted it 25-25. There were ties at 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 before Jacksonville finally ended the marathon set by scoring the 33rd and 34th points to win 34-32.

“It was a classic,” Latta said. “Both teams were determined not to go down. It was epic. I think we had at least three match points, and they had probably five or six set points.

“I love watching kids compete when their backs are against the wall. It was an incredible sight to see all those kids just battling out there tooth and nail. It was a really good match.”

Guntersville grabbed a 4-1 lead in the decisive fifth set, but the Eagles seized the momentum with an 8-1 run that sent them to a 9-5 advantage.

Jacksonville pulled in front 14-8, but the Wildcats rallied, cutting it to 14-12. A block by the Eagles’ Courtney Bowden made it 15-12 and delivered the set, match and championship point.

“After the first two sets, I think we got so high that when we fell, we couldn’t really get back up,” said Alex Gamble, a Guntersville senior.

Gamble made 44 assists, five kills and one block in the finals.

Elizabeth Bridges finished with 15 kills, five blocks, five digs and three assists.

Bridges and Gamble represented GHS on the all-state tournament team.

Morgan Gaston closed with 14 kills, 12 digs and two blocks for the Cats, and Anna Wright had five kills, five aces and two blocks.

“Those first two sets were just about as clean as we could play,” Latta said. “We kind of had them chasing and reacting to whatever we were doing, and then the tide kind of turned there.

“They were digging up balls that they weren’t digging up in the first couple of sets, and they were putting us on the defensive.

“Volleyball is crazy. Once that momentum goes, it’s hard to get back.”

Blessing Dunn closed with 11 kills and three blocks for Jacksonville. Tamaria Mays had 10 kills and five blocks while Halee Stallings contributed nine kills and five blocks.

Guntersville defeats Thomasville, Catholic

On Wednesday, the Wildcats whipped Thomasville 25-18, 25-13, 25-8 in the 4A quarterfinals and edged No. 6 Pope John Paul II Catholic of Huntsville 29-31, 25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 15-9 in the semifinals.

Gracie Likos scored five kills to lead GHS in the Thomasville match.

Gaston closed with three kills and two digs, and Bridges had four assists and two kills. Gamble finished with eight assists and two digs.

Gamble compiled 40 assists, 17 digs and five kills against Pope John Paul II Catholic.

Gaston collected 15 digs, 11 kills and two blocks, and Bridges posted 11 kills, eight digs, four blocks and two aces.

Makynna Scheer made 14 digs, and Savannah Ferch had nine kills. Wright contributed eight kills, seven blocks and three digs.