By Rubin E. Grant Mattie Gardner can’t withhold her enthusiasm as she enters her first season as Mountain Brook’s head volleyball coach. “I couldn’t be more thrilled and honored,” she said. She’s also eager to maintain the Spartans’ status as an elite program.  “My expectations are to win a state championship again,” Gardner said. “That hasn’t changed.” Gardner has … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant When Addie Holden and Stella Yester traveled to New Jersey for the Association of Volleyball Professionals Beach Volleyball Nationals last month, their only goal was to do better than they had done in their previous national tournament. They finished a disappointing 33rd in the girls 16U competition in the AVP America Junior East Coast Championships last … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant Mary Katherine “MK” Tedder’s parents were uppermost in her mind as she thought about what school she would attend to finish her college softball career. Tedder was the 2017 OTM Softball Player of the Year as a senior at Spain Park High School and was a prep All-American. She played the past four seasons at Texas before graduating in May with a degree in … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant Ashley Hardee had admired the Vestavia Hills volleyball program for some time. So, when he got a chance to become the Rebels’ head coach in the spring, he jumped at it. Hardee took the reins of Vestavia Hills’ program in March and now he’s about to embark on his first season.  “I’m tickled and excited about the opportunity to be the head coach at … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant During the sixth inning of the second game of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s All-Star Sports Week North-South Softball All-Star doubleheader last Wednesday, the public address announcer told the fans, players and coaches to stick around afterward for the MVP presentation at Lagoon Park in Montgomery. John Carroll Catholic pitcher Macey Ogle … [Read more...]