By Rubin E. Grant
With a new head coach, Mountain Brook senior volleyball players Greer Golden and Lucy Redden were not sure what to expect this season.
Even though Mattie Gardner had been involved with the Spartan’s volleyball program since 2017 and served as a varsity assistant the past two seasons as Mountain Brook won state championships in 2019 (Class 7A) and 2020 (Class 6A), there was still a bit of an unknown with her replacing Vickie Nichols as head coach.
“There was confusion with coach Nichols retiring and then unretiring,” Redden said, referring to Nichols’ decision to take over at Florence. “We didn’t know until summer what was going on.
“Coach Gardner came in and said she was going to change the environment, that it would not just be the same. But she said we all have the same goal, to win another state championship.”
The Spartans have responded well to the standards Gardner set.
“It’s been good,” Golden said. “There have been a lot of positive changes. I really enjoy the team. It’s one of the funnest teams I’ve been on since I’ve been on varsity.”
Redden said Gardner placed an emphasis on fundamentals.
“Coach Gardner’s big thing is technique,” Redden said. “She wants us to work on the little things and that’s helped us be consistent.”
Mountain Brook (35-12) now is in position to go after its third consecutive state championship. The Spartans took the first step in that direction last week, winning the Class 6A, Area 9 tournament by sweeping Homewood 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-12) in the final at Spartan Arena.
Mountain Brook is competing in the Class 6A North Super Regional this week at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville. The Spartans will take on Southside-Gadsden (45-12) Wednesday in its first regional matchup, seeking a return trip to next week’s state tournament at the Birmingham CrossPlex and Bill Harris Arena.
Redden, an outside hitter, and Golden, a middle hitter, have played key roles, leading the team in kills — Redden with 351 and Golden with 279 — and providing senior leadership along with fellow seniors Hannah Hitson and Alexandra Carlson.
“I think we have played pretty well,” Golden said. “This year has been kind of intimidating with everyone in the community expecting us to win state again, but the expectations also have given us lot of confidence going into the super regional.”
Redden has enjoyed having an expanded role this season as a six rotation outside hitter who does a little of everything.
“I haven’t always had a big role on the team like Greer, who has been on the varsity for four years,” Redden said. “It’s been really nice to have a bigger role and be a leader, making sure to keep everyone in check. We all have the same goal, but we need to bring it every game.
“Some teams play on emotions or rely on one person to succeed, but we’re not a one-person team. We have to have everybody doing what they are supposed to do.”
Redden and Golden have a close relationship, and they are hoping to end their careers with another title.
“We are really good friends,” Golden said. “We’ve grown up together, playing volleyball and basketball since the third grade. We want to go out on top.”
