The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Four of the five Capital City Conference teams were playing in new classifications as a result of Competitive Balance Factor, but the one thing that didn’t change is the coaches’ vote for the Capital City Conference Player of the Year.
For the second consecutive year, Montgomery Academy’s Addi Vinson was that player, despite her team’s move from Class 5A to Class 6A this season.
“Her defense got better, her blocking got better,” said Montgomery Academy coach Julie Gordon. “It was always good. She could run wherever on that court and she’s going to set the perfect ball. It doesn’t matter what kind of pass they give her, she sets a perfect ball. And there’s not many setters that can do that consistently and that’s what sets her apart.
“She’ll get even better in college because she’ll get better hitters that can hit a faster ball. You think we run a fast tempo? In college, she’s going to zip it out and they’re going to hammer it.”
Alabama Christian Academy coach Amber Hogan said Vinson was an obvious choice because of “just the way she captains and leads the team. It’s the little things. Let’s say the opposing team gets a run of two points. She’s going to be the first to collectively pull them into the huddle to get them calmed down, to get them adjusted. The way she takes whatever ball that she’s given and the decision making that she has and her IQ is phenomenal. She can tell which way the middle blocker is going and who to set, knowing who’s on and who’s off within her team to give the ball. Her decision making is leaps and bounds above so many other setters. MA is a great team. Addi makes them look very good.”
And while Montgomery Academy may have been the best Capital City Conference team, the Eagles’ championship dreams ended with a second-round loss to Spanish Fort.
Gordon described the Class 6A field of teams as a “beast” and said the decision to elevate a 2A program to 3A based on the private school multiplier and to 6A based on its success has limitations.
“It’s not just happening to volleyball, it’s happened to our tennis team playing in 7A, it’s happened to our soccer team the last two years trying to play 6A,” Gordon said. “You get to a level -- and it happened to Bayside at 6A, it happened to Saint James at 6A -- that seems to be the cutoff. We just can’t compete because of the number of players (enrolled in the school). And look at the team that we had. It’s not going to get much better than that.
“The Alabama High School Athletic Association has achieved their objective. They wanted private schools to stop winning and that’s what has happened. It’s the Bayside rule. You can’t win 21 (state championships) in a row and expect something not to happen. We’re a by-product of this. I could write a proposal (to change the rule), I’ve got an idea, but they’re not going to want to listen to what a private school has to say.”
Saint James, which had previously been elevated to 6A, dropped to 5A, but Catholic and Trinity were both elevated to Class 5A by Competitive Balance Factor, while Alabama Christian remains at 3A.
Capital City Conference coaches voted second-year coach Jenn Denham of Catholic as the CCC Coach of the Year. A year after winning the 4A state championship, Denham’s team finished as the 5A Area 6 runner-up to Trinity, then reached the semifinals of the South Super Regional before losing to Faith Academy in five sets.
After returning to the state tournament, Catholic defeated Guntersville in the quarterfinals before losing to UMS-Wright in five sets in the semifinals.
2024 ALL-CAPITAL CITY CONFERENCE
VOLLEYBALL TEAM
Addi Vinson Sr. S Montgomery Academy
Kaylin Corley Jr. OH Saint James
Harper Howell Sr. MB Catholic
Elle McBride Sr. OH Montgomery Academy
Kaci Armistead So. L Montgomery Academy
Holland Williams Sr. MB Trinity
Player of the Year: Addi Vinson, Sr., Montgomery Academy
Coach of the Year: Jenn Denham, Catholic
Honorable mention: Ellie Causey, Jr., S, Trinity; Lizzie Causey, Jr., OH, Trinity; Bearden Ellis, Sr., OH, Trinity; Amelia Hughes, Sr., OH, Montgomery Academy; Sydney Johnston, Jr., L, Saint James; Grace Levanda, Sr., MB, Catholic; Caroline McDaniel, Sr., OH; A’Kirra McElveen, Sr., OH, Alabama Christian; Joi McGuire, Jr., OH, Catholic; Anna Moore, Sr., OH, Trinity; Zaria Rudolph, Fr., OH, Catholic; Maria Schwarz, Sr., S, Catholic; Teagan Scott, Sr., OH, ACA; Tatiana Shuford, Sr., S, Saint James; Lilly Smith, Fr., L, Trinity; Morgan Springer, So., MB, Montgomery Academy.