By DRUW GIAMALVA, Sports Editor
The Guntersville Wildcats volleyball team brought home another “Blue Map” trophy Thursday afternoon as they swept through the Orange Beach Makos to claim their seventh state championship in school history and their second consecutive title.
“This wasn’t a rebuilding year for us,” said Guntersville head coach Melissa Paul-Gardner. “It’s a legacy that we’re trying to build for years to come. I’m proud of these kids and all the work they’ve done and earned.”
The Wildcats were led to victory by All-Tournament team selections Jesslyn Hincy, Ella Tate Campbell, Italey May and tournament MVP Shiloh Stanley.
“We knew at the very first practice of this year that we wanted to win state,” said Stanley. “Just having that mentality was a game changer and we pushed ourselves all season.”
“We lost nine seniors last year and we are a young team but at the end of the day, we are committed to being better,” May said.
The Wildcats and the Makos had an entertaining back-and-forth brawl in Set 1 with Guntersville taking an early 3-2 lead thanks to kills by Stanley and May. The Makos would build up a lead in the first set as they led by more than eight points. The Wildcats would tie it up at 17-17 before going on to control the remainder of the opening set. The closing point for the Wildcats would be a May kill to give the Wildcats a 25-23 win in the first set.
Despite a tough effort by Orange Beach in the second set, the Wildcats remained in control as they took a 25-20 win in the second set. With just one set away from their second consecutive title, Guntersville would make a statement and sweep the Makos with a dominant 25-8 win in the final set to take home the Blue Map Trophy.
“It feels wonderful,” Paul-Gardner said. “I know a lot of people talk about me but it’s the players that are putting in the work. They’re the ones at practice doing the drills and waking up at 5:30 in the morning in the summer.”
Stanley’s MVP performance in the state championship would see her finish with 11 kills while May would finish with nine kills and 12 digs. Campbell would have five kills and one dig. Hincy would lead the team in digs with 16.
“I’m really proud of these kids and the work they have done and the work they have earned, because this was 100% earned, not given,” said Paul-Gardner.
The Wildcats will look to three-peat in 2027.
Guntersville’s Shiloh Stanley (11) was MVP of the Class 4A state volleyball tournament. She helped the Wildcats to their second straight title, which Guntersville clinched Thursday with a 3-0 win over Orange Beach in Birmingham. ‘This was 100 percent earned, not given,’ coach Melissa Paul-Gardner said. Guntersville finished the season 38-14. SPECIAL TO THE LEADER
