Volleyball team set for 3 tournaments in September

The Mountain Brook High School volleyball team wasted no time testing itself at the beginning of the 2016 season.

The Spartans, the twice reigning Class 7A state champions, got the season started with a challenging tri-match against McGill-Toolen and Hoover on Aug. 25. The three teams were ranked Nos. 2-4 in the preseason 7A Alabama Sports Writers Association poll.

Mountain Brook was one of 40 teams to participate in the Juanita Boddie Tournament Aug. 26-27, hosted at Hoover High School.

The month of September does not make things much easier for the Spartans, as the varsity squad participates in three tournaments, along with beginning Class 7A, Area 6 play on Sept. 20.

The Spartans travel to John Carroll Sept. 1, followed by a trip to Huntsville for the always-tough Ironman Tournament.

Vestavia Hills, Thompson and James Clemens visit Mountain Brook over the next two weeks, Sept. 8, 13 and 15, respectively.

The Rally High tournament is slated for Sept. 17, in Emerson, Georgia. Approximately 35 teams will participate in the inaugural tournament at the new 24-court facility at LakePoint Sporting Community.

Those top-tier tournaments are scheduled to help the Spartans prepare for what coach Haven O’Quinn calls the most important part of the schedule.

“Our area’s going to be stronger this year than it’s been in the past,” she said. “We have to focus on that and we can’t 100 percent not be thinking about that until that part’s done.”

A trip to Spain Park opens area play, with the Jaguars expected to continue to improve under third-year coach Kellye Bowen.

The Spartans conclude the month with a matchup at Hoover, a tournament in Lexington, Kentucky, and a tri-match against Bob Jones and Danville.