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BIRMINGHAM – The two best high school volleyball teams in Class 7A battled Wednesday night the CrossPlex Bill Harris Arena for five grueling sets with 26 tie scores and 12 lead changes before the state champion was finally decided.
McGill-Toolen Catholic won its third straight 7A state championship 3-2 over Bob Jones High School in what will arguably be discussed as perhaps the best state championship match in AHSAA history.
The Dirty Dozen (45-9), coached by Kate Wood, won the match 25-22, 25-17, 18-25, 24-26, 15-13. It was the program’s 10 state title in this century, the 24th overall. The Patriots (53-10), coached by Jenny Harrett, finished runner-up to McGill-Toolen for the third year in a row. Bob Jones was gunning for its third title.
“Both teams played their best,†said Jarrett following the match. “I couldn’t be prouder of my team though. I would have loved to have had a better outcome at the end, but I wouldn’t have traded my girls for any other team. Never. I love these girls so much and they love each other.â€
Paris McQuirter had 26 of McGill-Toolen’s 63 total kills to earn MVP honors. She and Bob Jones’ Kennedy Vaughn were phenomenal from start to finish. Kennedy had 25 kills – 50 percent of her team’s total (50).
Wood had nothing but praise and admiration for the Patriots. However, she admitted this victory was result of just how committed her players have been throughout their careers.
“We believe in each other,†she said of her players.
Catherine McClain added 20 kills and 17 digs for McGill-Toolen, and Cami Huff had 10 kills. Setter Alice Wood had 53 assists, 14 digs, and four service aces. Payton McClarren had 11 digs and two service aces playing a key role in helping her team claw back in the fourth set from a seven-point deficit. Bob Jones won that set 26-24 to force the final set.
Kendall Buckley added eight kills for the Patriots, Kalison Beigh had 25 digs, and setter Riley Lovel had 32 assists and 13 digs.
The 2024 Elite 8 State Volleyball Championships close out Thursday at Bill Harris Arena with Classes 1A, 3A and 5A playing their championship matches. The first final will be at 10 a.m.
The NFHS Network is live video streaming all finals at the 2024 Elite 8 state tourney over its subscriber-based platform. For more information, go to .
CLASS 7A ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Paris McQuirter, McGill-Toolen (MVP); Alice Wood, McGill-Toolen; Catherine McClain, McGill-Toolen; Kennedy Vaughn, Bob Jones; Kendall Buckley, Bob Jones; and Kalison Beigh, Bob Jones.
