By james art The Hoover High School volleyball team was no one-hit wonder. After making the state finals last fall, the Bucs followed up with a repeat appearance this season.
The Bucs reached Tuesday’s Class 7A semifinals wishing they had gone further but knowing they finished a strong season.
“Last year, no one expected us to be here because we graduated such a large class [the year before]” Hoover head coach Amanda Wood said. “This year it was one goal to get back into the elite eight, get to the final four and move on. We stayed a little while.’
Hoover defeated Enterprise Tuesday morning in the first round at the Birmingham CrossPlex, winning in straight sets, 25-23, 25-21, 26-24.
Layla Smith led the charge in this match with 19 kills. Sydney Durban finished with 40 shots on defense. Maddie Lopez had 10 steals and 20 assists, and Addison Jenkins finished with 16 assists.
But in the semifinals, the two-time defending state champion proved too much. McGill-Toolen defeated the Bucs in four sets, 25-21, 30-32, 25-21, 25-20.
Durban had 18 digs in the match, Smith had 14 kills, Aliyah Pooler finished with seven kills, Lopez recorded 15 assists and Jenkins added 12 assists.
Hoover had a strong season and was particularly strong midway through the season. After a lull toward the end of the regular season, the Bucs won the regional tournament and finished second in the North Super Regional the previous week.
This senior class is another big one. Olivia Guenster, Smith Sophia Shofner, Amelia Brown, Lopez, Durban, Madelyn Splawn and Kayla Terrell all finished their Bucs careers.
“A lot of it will be gone, but there’s a good core group coming back,” Wood said. “I hope people count us again.”