The two-time defending AHSAA Class 7A state volleyball champions are starting where they left off last season.
McGill-Toolen Catholic, coached by Kate Wood, recently reeled off eight straight victories in the season-opening annual Juanita Boddie Invitational Tournament, held at Hoover High School. Coach Wood’s Dirty Dozen (9-0) defeated Bob Jones High School 25-23, 18-25, and 15-13 to capture the team’s ninth Boddie tournament overall since 1993. Bob Jones finished as the Class 7A runner up last season and is coached by Jenny Jarrett.
The Dirty Dozen, who last won the Boddie tourney title in 2018, opened the season with a 3-0 single match regular season on win over Class 6A Spain Park. The impressive tourney run included beating Montgomery Academy, who opened the season ranked No. 1 in the Class 6A state rankings. McGill-Toolen also posted wins over Jackson (MS) Academy, Thompson, and Mobile Christian in Saturday’s Gold Bracket championship play, and posted pool wins over Muscle Shoals, Seckinger (GA), and Tuscaloosa County.
Leading the charge for the Dirty Dozen was outside hitter Catherine McClain, who had 68 kills, 25 digs, and eight service aces in the tourney. Grace George had 52 kills, 13 blocks, 46 digs and 10 aces, setter Alice Wood totaled 190 assists, 44 digs, 11 blocks and 18 service aces.
Across the two-day tournament, McGill-Toolen was 16-1 and won eight straight matches. TG
Photo: McGill-Toolen Catholic’s Dirty Dozen and Coach Kate Wood hoist the 2023 Class 7A state championship trophy high after last year’s state finals. AHSAA PHOTO | David Holtsford