Preseason volleyball rankings release
AL.com recently released its pre-season high school volleyball rankings.
Hartselle, 2018 winner of Class 6A, Area 14, enters the season ranked sixth. The Lady Tigers will be looking to get back to the state tournament following last year’s first-round loss in the North Regional tournament.
Brewer, winner of Class 5A, Area 15, enters the season ranked third. The Lady Patriots look to advance to the state tournament following last year’s second-round loss to the eventual state champion Jasper in the North Regional tournament.
Danville, winner of Class 4A, Area 13, in 2018, enters the season ranked fifth. The Lady Hawks look to make a return trip to the state tournament this season after losing to Bayside Academy, winner of last season’s state championship, in the first round last season.
Decatur Heritage, winner of Class 2A Area 16, enters the season ranked ninth. The Lady Eagles lost in the first round of the North Super Regional.
Priceville and West Morgan in Class 4A and Falkville in Class 1A were listed as teams to watch in their perspective classes.
Every pre-season No. 1 team has won a state championship. Bayside leads the way with 27 titles, including the past 17 straight. Addison has 11 titles; Montgomery Academy has five; Mountain Brook and Athens Bible each have three; Spanish Fort has two; and Jasper won its first championship last season.
Hartselle won a state championship in 2012, while Danville won in 2014.
AL.com Volleyball Rankings
CLASS 7A
- Mountain Brook
- Hoover
- McGill-Toolen
- Bob Jones
- Spain Park
- Thompson
- Huntsville
- Enterprise
- Vestavia Hills
- Sparkman
Teams to watch: Auburn, Baker, Fairhope, James Clemens and Oak Mountain.
CLASS 6A
- Spanish Fort
- Hazel Green
- St. Paul’s
- Chelsea
- Pelham
- Hartselle
- Albertville
- Buckhorn
- Muscle Shoals
- Saraland
Teams to watch: Athens, Homewood and Oxford.
CLASS 5A
- Jasper
- Guntersville
- Brewer
- Lawrence County
- Madison Academy
- Faith Academy
- Brewbaker Tech
- Mortimer Jordan
- St. James
- Arab
Teams to watch: Alexandria, East Limestone, Ramsay, Satsuma and Southside-Gadsden.
CLASS 4A
- Bayside Academy
- Providence Christian
- Jacksonville
- Trinity
- Danville
- Brooks
- Alabama Christian
- Curry
- Central-Florence
- Deshler
Teams to watch: Fairview, Fayette County, Priceville, West Morgan and Wilson.
CLASS 3A
- Montgomery Academy
- Geraldine
- St. Luke’s
- Plainview
- Lexington
- Lauderdale County
- Houston Academy
- New Hope
- Pleasant Valley
- Carbon Hill
Teams to watch: Glencoe, Opp, T.R. Miller and Westminster Christian.
CLASS 2A
- Addison
- Altamont
- Cedar Bluff
- Winston County
- G.W. Long
- Hatton
- Sand Rock
- Goshen
- Decatur Heritage
- Westbrook Christian
Teams to watch: Ariton, Cottage Hill and Horseshoe Bend.
CLASS 1A
- Athens Bible
- Faith Christian
- Lindsay Lane
- Meek
- Spring Garden
- Pleasant Home
- Westminster-Oak Mountain
- Sweet Water
- Isabella
- Brantley
Teams to watch: Falkville, Kinston and Mars Hill.