Get ready, Alabama! It is that time of the year yet again when high school volleyball teams across the state come together to fight for glory. Yes, that’s right, the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Volleyball State Championship is back. The tournament is one that turned into an Alabama tradition. It started in 1971 and has since conducted fifty-three tournaments and seventy-four champions. Any guesses on who won the inaugural title?

Well, it was Bradshaw High School! Meanwhile, in the last held tournament in 2023, Plainview made headlines in the last AHSAA Championship as the first-time champion. None of this is as interesting as the fact that forty-six teams have managed to win multiple state titles, with thirty-seven of those programs winning back-to-back! Talk about a legacy in the making! Each year, the tournament seems to get bigger and better. And this year promises to be no different!

When and where is the AHSAA Volleyball State Championship Tournament taking place?

Pick up your calendars and mark the day, folks! The dates are here. The 54th annual AHSAA Volleyball State Championship tournament will happen between October 29th and October 31st. And the venue? Well, this year’s tournament is happening at the Birmingham CrossPlex. The first day will see Classes 7A, 6A, 4A, and 2A go head-to-head in quarterfinal and semifinal matches. Soon after, there comes a change in the arena!

The matches leading up to the championships will happen at the Bill Harris Arena. The excitement is in the air as the world moves closer to the crowning matches. Now, the big question that looms is, who will walk away with those coveted Blue Map trophies? Well, if history is testimony, then the matches are going to be rather fierce!

What are the major teams participating in the championship?

Let’s take a look at the iconic teams that will be on the court yet again! First and foremost, there is, of course, Bayside Academy. Bayside is a competitor to be feared! After all, they are the ones to hold 31 state titles. And if that wasn’t enough, they also have won 21 championships from 2002 to 2022. The fact that all 21 wins were consecutive years just says how much competition they post. That is a legacy that screams, ‘Watch out’ to the competitors. But then there is also the McGill-Toolen Catholic High School!

The McGill-Toolen Catholic High School won the last two AHSAA Class 7A volleyball championships. And that has put the Dirty Dozen on a mission to hit a three-peat. And let’s not forget last year’s champions from Classes 4A and 2A, either! Montgomery Catholic will be seen yet again looking to create history in Class 5A. Meanwhile, Pleasant Valley will also be looking to repeat history in Class 2A. They won their first title since 1997 just last year. So this is a crucial time for them to establish themselves as serious competitors. While the competition is already high, in comes Spring Garden to add on.

Spring Garden will be back with their best player yet, Ace Austin. She will be putting her all in to defend her title after an MVP performance last year. Ace last year also broke the losing streak of Spring to win the first championship since 2007. Considering they have never won any back-to-back titles, this just might be their time to change that dismal history.

The stakes are high, with every participating team putting their best foot forward. Will Bayside Academy finally claim their first Class 7A title? Will McGill-Toolen extend their dynasty? Or will a dark horse emerge from the shadows? Grab your popcorn and settle in, for this is going to be a couple of memorable days at the AHSAA Volleyball State Championship!