Hartselle High School hosted the first summer volleyball play date for the season June 28.

The following high schools from around the north Alabama area participated in the event: Hartselle, Addison, Carbon Hill, Austin, Danville and Madison Academy.

The teams, both varsity and junior varsity, were split into two pools of three to play against each other. Performance in the pools determined the rankings for the single-elimination tournament that followed.

“I thought my team improved as the day went,” said Hartselle varsity head coach Tanya Lybarger. “We still have a lot of fundamental work to do, but I thought they worked really hard and had good intensity.”

The Hartselle varsity team came in second in its pool behind Madison Academy and won the tournament, beating Carbon Hill in the final game. The Danville varsity team placed third in its pool and was eliminated in the first round of the tournament by Carbon Hill.

The Hartselle junior varsity team won its pool and placed second in the final tournament game after losing to Carbon Hill. The Danville junior varsity team placed third in its pool and was eliminated in the second round of the tournament by Hartselle.

“We played a hard and close game, but we fell short of winning the tournament,” Hartselle junior varsity coach Annie Burwell said. “Hartselle is young, but we have lots of unreached talent. I was very pleased with how we played together as a team for the first time this season, and I look forward to seeing these kids improve.”

The next play dates will take place in Guntersville at the Munciana Volleyball Club camp July 9-10 and at Hoover High School July 12-14.