By Erik Harris, sports editor
GARDENDALE — A pair of local volleyball teams saw their seasons come to an end on Tuesday evening as postseason play begins.
Both Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley were in action at the Class 6A, Area 12 tournament in Gardendale, and both lost out in similar fashion. The 3-seed Cougars started tournament play with a 3-0 loss to 2-seed Mortimer Jordan and 4-seed Pinson Valley fell to top-seed Gardendale by the same count.
The Indians were unable to stop Gardendale senior outside hitter Merritt Beason, who led the Rockets to a 25-9, 25-9, 25-14 sweep. The Florida commit placed 22 kills on Pinson Valley to secure a spot in the area 12 finals against Mortimer Jordan.
Gardendale would go on to capture the area crown.
For Clay-Chalkville, it was a 25-10, 25-16, 25-19 final to the Blue Devils that ended head coach Jocelyn Gant’s first season at the helm. After two lopsided sets, the Cougars showed some fight in the decisive third, pressuring Mortimer Jordan deep into the set.
Clay-Chalkville led 13-9 and later 16-13 following a Taylor Jackson kill, but the Blue Devils would eventually even things up at 17 and pull away for a 25-19 win.
In other action, the Springville volleyball team took down Southside-Gadsden and Pell City on its way to a Class 6A, Area 13 title on Tuesday. After knocking off Southside in the semifinals, the 2-seed Tigers swept the championship match from 4-seed Pell City, 25-13, 25-21, 25-22.
Springville will now host sub-regional play on Friday.