gulf shores: UMS, Gulf Shores, Bayside win openers

Mobile Christian scores first AHSAA victory in any sport
Friday, August 25, 2006
By DAVID LEE

Sports Correspondent
DAPHNE -- Class 5A UMS-Wright and Gulf Shores, both ranked in the first prep volleyball poll of the season, won their openers Thursday.

No. 4 UMS-Wright outlasted Daphne 25-18, 23-25, 25-19, and No. 6 Gulf Shores beat the Trojans 25-20, 26-28, 25-19.

First-year UMS coach Mike Tucker said he thought his team -- which lost five seniors after going to the 4A state finals last season -- looked good.

"I was pleased," said Tucker, who also coached at UMS in the mid-1990s and took the job again earlier this summer, without benefit of a team camp.

For the Bulldogs, Mayte Perez had 22 assists and Erin Danneker added nine kills.

For Gulf Shores, Haley Hopkins had 10 kills, and Erin Brett and Stacey Brantley 10 assists each.

Daphne will be in action again today in the Juanita Boddie tournament at Spain Park High in Birmingham, Gulf Shores will play in the Briarwood Christian Invitational in Birmingham tonight, and UMS plays Saturday in the St. James tournament in Montgomery.

-- SPANISH FORT, ranked No. 10 in 5A, opened the season with a tough 25-11, 20-25, 25-23, 25-20 victory over Satsuma. Felicia Smith had 11 kills and Elisa Galey 11 service points for the Toros, who play tonight in the Mary Montgomery Invitational.

-- BAYSIDE, ranked No. 1 in 2A, knocked off Robertsdale 25-14, 13-25, 25-16, 25-21 to open the season. Caroline Gill had 23 kills and Kersten Reed added 32 assists. The Admirals play tonight in the Juanita Boddie tournament at Spain Park High in Birmingham.

-- BAKER bounced back to beat Theodore 23-25, 25-2, 25-14, 25-11 to open its season. The Hornets' Krista Rodden finished with 15 aces and 13 digs, and teammate Monica Meadows had 15 assists and nine kills. Theodore starts play in the Mary Montgomery tournament at 4 p.m. today against Murphy.

-- MOBILE CHRISTIAN recorded the school's first Alabama High School Athletic Association win in any sport by defeating Leroy 25-8, 25-10, 25-10. Samantha Catlett and Laura Callaway each recorded eight kills for the Leopards, who previously competed in the AISA. Lucy Mitchell contributed 17 assists. Mobile Christian plays Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Escambia County.

-- ST. PAUL'S opened its season with a 25-8, 25-15, 25-12 victory over Mary Montgomery. Morgan Johns recorded seven kills and five aces, and Nancy Taylor turned in 20 assists for the Saints, who begin play today in Birmingham at the Briarwood Christian tournament.

-- MCGILL-TOOLEN opened its season by sweeping Fairhope 25-2, 25-7, 25-11. Sarah Scott had 10 kills and seven digs, and Virginia Drago 15 assists. The Dirty Dozen plays in the Juanita Boddie tournament in Birmingham tonight.

-- WILLIAMSON opened the season with a 25-18, 21-25, 25-22, 25-20 victory over Vigor. Jamarcia Brown had five assists, four kills, one block and one ace to lead the Lions, who will be at home Tuesday against B.C. Rain.