Spartans seek to defend state volleyball title

The Mountain Brook girls volleyball team begins defense of its Class 7A championship Wednesday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

Haven O’Quinn’s squad captured last season’s championship by beating Hoover in the final.

This year, the Spartans have been ranked No. 1 all season, but lost in the North Super Regionals to Huntsville.  Four teams from each super regional  advanced to Birmingham for the Elite Eight round.

Last year’s runner-up, Hoover, also advanced.

Matches begin at 8 a.m., but 7A play gets underway at 12:30 p.m. 

The 7A schedule:

Hoover vs. McGil-Toolen at 12:30 and Murphy vs. Grissom at 12:30 p.m.  

Those winners meet at 3:30 in the quarterfinals.

Mountain Brook opens with Enterprise at 2 p.m. and Prattville plays Huntsville at 2 p.m.

 Winners meet at 3:30.

The semifinals are at 5:30, which could be a Bucs-Spartans rematch.

The 7A championship is Thursday at 10 a.m.