Bucs finish season as state runners-up

The Hoover High School volleyball team scrapped to tie the Class 7A AHSAA State Volleyball Championship match with Mountain Brook at a set apiece, but ultimately fell to the Spartans, 3-1 (11-25, 25-23, 12-25, 19-25), on Oct. 27 at Bill Harris Arena.

“It was really kind of us today, as much as it was that way yesterday, too,” said head coach Chris Camper following the match. “We were an absolute roller coaster all year. When we were up, we were the best in Alabama. When we were down, we were beatable. It was never down because we didn’t care or didn’t try. Today was just that day.”

The Bucs (39-15) were at the peak of that roller coaster the day before, sweeping Enterprise and Huntsville in a pair of impressive performances that added to the intrigue of their matchup with Mountain Brook in the final.

“I’m just proud of them. I really am,” Camper said.

In the championship match, Hoover overcame a sluggish first set to tie the match with a strong second set. Unfortunately, the third and fourth sets got away from the Bucs, as the Spartans marched away with their third consecutive Class 7A state title.

Kyra Hunter, one of six Hoover seniors, led the team with 13 kills and also registered six digs. In her only season with the Bucs, she proved to be a force on the outside. But what she will remember most is the journey of the team.

“Just the ride,” she said. “How fun it was and how they accepted me so quickly to the team and just being able to be part of the experience was the best. Being able to play here was an amazing experience.”

Nora Webster managed eight kills and nine digs, while Paige Shaw finished with six kills and 13 digs. Olivia Portera finished with 14 digs.

Setter Grace Harris was in an untenable situation for much of the last two weeks, as she stepped in for an injured Spencer Downs. Just a sophomore, Harris stepped up following Jamie Gregg’s knee injury in the spring and Downs’ inability to continue.

Despite the tough position, Harris left a positive impression on her teammates, on and off the floor.

“Grace is by far one of the nicest, sweetest girls on the entire team,” Webster said. “She wanted it just as bad as any of us.”

 “When she was on, she was just as good as our No. 1,” Camper said.

Harris finished the title match with 27 assists.

Hoover will see Portera, Downs, Webster, Maya Jones, Kasia Hunter and Kyra Hunter depart, as the seniors conclude their careers.

“It means an unbelievable amount. I can’t even put it into words,” said senior libero Portera after the Bucs sealed their spot in the state final. “This is such a special team, and we knew — not only with our talent, but how close we are — we were so close. We knew we could do it.”