Prep volleyball
- Updated: August 22, 2026
State champion Cherokee County rebounds from early loss to win CaroStrong Tournament. Shorthanded Munford takes runnerup.
By East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE — Reigning state champion Cherokee County rallied from a loss to Munford early in Saturday’s CaroStrong Tournament to beat the Lions 26-24, 26–24 in the final at Jacksonville High School.
The CaroStrong Tournament is named for former Jacksonville player Caroline Neisler, who died of leukemia in 2013, after transferring from the University of North Alabama to Samford University.
Cherokee County, which won the Class 4A state title in 2025, went 4-1 in the CaroStrong Tournament, falling 21-25, 21-25 to Munford before reeling off four consecutive victories: Piedmont 25-20, 25-17, White Plains 25-20, 25-21, Sardis 25-13, 25-20 and Munford in the finals.
The Warriors are 6-1 on the season.
“We’re still trying to figure things out,” Cherokee County coach Tiffany Rieger said. “We started off a little rocky, and there were times where we couldn’t get our offense going, but overall, the girls pulled it out.
“We were working just to get better and improve over the day, and I think we did that.”
Cherokee County’s top performers:
— Syndi Frost: 50 assists, two aces, five digs.
— Harleigh Henry: four aces, seven kills, four digs, two blocks.
— Mattie Green: 44 assists, three aces, nine kills, four blocks, six digs.
— Taniya Fife: six aces, five blocks, 17 kills, 20 digs, two assists.
— Ava Haygood: five aces, five assists, 38 kills, 17 digs.
— Jolie Alexander: nine aces, six assists, two blocks, 46 kills, 10 digs.
— Shyann Nicholson: 15 digs.
MUNFORD: Playing without middle Faith Jacobs because of an illness, the Lions went 3-2 in the CaroStrong Tournament at Jacksonville and finished as runnerup.
Munford beat Sardis 25-17, 25-19, beat reigning 4A state champion Cherokee County 25-21, 25-21, fell to Jacksonville 20-25, 25-15, 11-15, beat White Plains 25-23, 25-14 and fell to Cherokee County 24-26, 24-26 in the finals.
“I was very pleased with the way we played,” Munford coach Noel Stephens said. “We were missing our starting middle. She was sick and wasn’t able to come, so I brought a JV kid up, and she played outstanding.
“The whole team played amazing. From where we were last year, to come in and play the competition we played today … I’m proud of them. This group is fun to coach. I love them. They don’t quit.”
Munford’s top performers:
— Reese Brewer: two aces, 76 assists, 10 kills, five digs.
— Mackinlee Harris: five aces, 25 kills, one dig.
— Andreya Curry: 33 kills, two blocks.
— Mylie Stephens: four aces, 62 kills, seven digs, six blocks.
— Saryn Goodson: two aces, one kill, 12 digs.
— Ashtyn Bishop: one ace, one kill, 32 digs.
— Brooklyn Haywood: 23 kills, five blocks.
— Brooklyn Pressley: four aces, three kills, 17 digs.
— Samaree Thomas: 22 kills, two digs, six blocks.
JACKSONVILLE: CaroStrong host Jacksonville went 2-2 in the tournament to reach 3-2 on the season.
The Golden Eagles lost to Sardis 22-25, 17-25, beat Piedmont 25-20, 17-25, 15-10, lost to Ohatchee 22-25, 10-25 and beat Munford 25-20, 15-25, 15-11.
Jacksonville’s top performers:
— Calleigh Walker: two aces, two kills, 59 assists, six digs.
— Layna Wise: two aces, 24 kills, two blocks, four digs.
— Addie Tidwell: 14 kills, seven blocks.
— Ana Strain: six aces, 14 kills, two blocks, 14 digs.
— Zion Smith: two aces, 11 kills, 10 blocks, one dig.
— Raybon Pridgen: one ace, one kill, 21 digs.
WHITE PLAINS: The Wildcats lost to Munford 23-25, 14-25, beat Ohatchee 25-17, 25-9, lost to Cherokee County 21-25, 20-25 and beat Piedmont 25-21, 25-12.
White Plains’ top performers:
— Sophie Phillips: 18 digs, five kills, two blocks, four aces, 54 assists.
— Aubrey Adcock: 21 digs, 2? kills, one blocks, two aces, one assist.
— Callie Fritts: 10 digs, 14 kills, three blocks, six aces.
— Ansley Prichard: eight digs, one assist.
— Mackenzie Sparks: seven digs, one assist.
— Karli Otwell: nine digs, seven aces.
— Brooklyn Ward: five digs, 24 kills, two blocks, one ace.
— Elly Law: two kills, three blocks, one assist.
— Kinley Hill: one dig, two kills.
— Madilyn Holley: five digs, five kills, one block.
—Aubrey Cobb:one digs, eight assists.
— Piper Thompson: five digs, one kill.
Elsewhere
DONOHO: Playing in the Smith Lake Invitational, the Falcons lost to Cullman 20-25, 13-25, lost to Meek 15-25, 20-25, beat Curry 25-11, 23-25, 16-14 and lost to Carbon Hill 24-26, 19-25.
— Alana Maldonado Masonet:11 kills, five digs.
— Bentlee Pahman: one kill, four assists, four aces, 52 digs.
— Taylor Worley: 22 kills, two blocks.
— Gracelyn Plunkett: one kill, 55 assists, four aces, five digs.
— Cyan Duncan: 10 kills, two aces, three digs, three blocks.
— Harper Draper: six kills, five digs.
— Nora Gibson: two kills.
— Adalyn Mundy: four aces, 13 digs.
— Mary Marshall Alexander: nine digs.
— Hania Rehman: four kills.
ALEXANDRIA: Playing in the Juanita Boddie Tournament, the Valley Cubs beat Clay-Chalkville 25-7, 25-11, lost to Helena:25-21, 17-25, 14-16, beat Southside 18-25, 25-18, 15-9, beat Starkville (Miss.):25-20, 25-14, and lost to James Clemens 26-24, 23-25, 13-15:
— Lanajia Redwine:16 kills, four blocks.
— Kate Wheeler: 11 kills, one dig, one ace.
— Cali Hess: eight kills, 80 assists, 20 digs, two blocks, 12 aces.
— Landry Patterson: two kills, six assists, 42 digs, four aces.
— Caylin Adams: nine kills, one assist, five digs, two blocks, seven aces.
— Brenlee Curvin: five digs, two aces.
— Lennon Lange: 19 kills, 20 digs, five aces.
— Marley Edge: nine kills, two digs.
— Ava Browning: 11 digs, two assists, two aces.
— Zayley Mobbs: 27 kills, 10 digs, one block.
OXFORD: Also playing in the Juanita Boddi Tournamnt, the Yllow Jackts fell to A. Crawford Mosley 19-25, 25-17, 15-3, fell to Decatur 21-25, 29-27, 13-15 and fell to Fairhope 12-25, 25-20, 8-15.
Oxford’s top performers:
— Ava Thomas: 30 kills, five digs.
— Marleigh Gay: nine kills.
— Emerald Cole: 13 kills, four blocks.
— Adriana Bonilla: 17 digs.
— Macy Thomas: 50 assists.
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