Providence volleyball finishes second in state

PELHAM — Providence Christian’s dream season came up a win short Thursday.

The Lady Eagles fell in the Class 1A state championship to Athens Bible, 25-23, 25-16, 23-25, 25-23 at the Pelham Civic Complex.

Despite the loss, Providence earned the volleyball program’s first trophy since joining the Alabama High School Athletic Association, finishing as state runner-ups. The Eagles also finished the year 37-9.

“We had a great season, and I am very, very proud of these kids,” Providence Christian coach Bill Oldfield said. “Even though they may not have played their best, they tried their hardest and for that I am proud of them.”

“It means a lot,” senior Amy Brown said of finishing as state runner-ups. “It is special. It is a good thing to have and a record for our school.”

“It is as close as you want to go out without actually winning it, so it is special,” added senior Andrea Charlton.

Athens Bible (36-12) won its second state title in volleyball, the first since 1989.

Failing to finish games hurt Providence, which held the lead late in three of the four games.

The Eagles were up 23-21 in the first and fourth games, but lost both 25-23. They won the other game with a lead.

“Down the stretch we lost some execution points,” Oldfield said. “That may have been (a lack of) experience at this level.”

Sara Cary and the two Dowd sisters — Katie and Elizabeth — led Providence. Cary was credited with 33 assists, five kills, two blocks and two aces. Katie Dowd had 15 kills, 12 digs and a block, and Elizabeth Dowd had 11 kills, 10 digs, a block and an ace.

Cary and Katie Dowd were named to the all-tournament team.

Tournament MVP E.A. Shaver and all-tournament selection Makayla Melvin led Athens Bible. Shaver, who seemingly came up with all the key points, was credited with 22 kills, a block and two aces, while Melvin had 23 kills, four digs and four aces.

“No. 25 (Melvin) I thought did a great job, and that No. 8 (Shaver) of course did a fantastic job,” Oldfield said. “Those were the two we were trying to stop, and we couldn’t quite get the job done.”

Athens Bible setter Athena Hinkle delivered 42 assists. She was also named to the all-tournament teams.

The Eagles soared to a 13-8 lead in game one behind two kills from Katie Dowd and an ace and two kills by Cary — with one of Cary’s kills a nifty no-look backhand flipshot down the sideline while facing the opposite direction.

Athens Bible came back to tie it at 15-15 then at 17-17 but Providence scored four straight to build a 21-17 lead.

Providence maintained the lead and was up 23-21 when the Eagles had a bad hit at the top of the net, giving a point and the serve to ABS.

Shaver then took over, slapping a shot at the top of the net down for a point, pushing a dink shot over Providence blocks into a hole and earning a hard kill to finish out the game.

The teams battled on almost even terms early in game two. The score was tied eight times during the first 22 service rotations, the last at 11-11. But Athens Bible closed out for a 25-16 win to put the Trojans within a game of the title.

The Eagles performed better in the third game.

Like most of the first two games, the points went back-and-forth as it was tied nine times and the margin never got above three for most of the game.

Providence trailed 17-16 when it broke through with six straight points to take a 22-17 advantage. Georgia Fabbrini had a kill to start the run, Whitney Devane had two blocks for points, and Cary, Katie Dowd and Devane earned kills to complete the run.

Athens Bible, though, fought back with five straight points to tie it at 22.

Providence pulled away, though, and Elizabeth Dowd ended the game with a left-handed kill off a set from Cary.

In the fourth game, the teams were tied at 21, but a hit out of bounds by Athens Bible and a kill by Katie Dowd pushed the Eagles to a 23-21 lead.

However, Shaver took over again. She earned two straight points to tie it back up at 23.

Providence then had two straight hitting errors, giving Athens Bible the game and the match.