Oct. 20—TRINITY — Wrestling legend Ric Flair once famously said, "To be the man, you gotta beat the man."
On Monday night, the West Morgan volleyball team checked off one of those boxes.
The Class 4A, No. 2 Rebels knocked off current No. 5 and defending state champion Cherokee County 3-0.
"I knew we could (beat them), it was just whether or not we showed up," said West Morgan head coach Kristen Parrish. "The evidence shows we definitely showed up tonight."
The game was never in doubt. The Rebels not only swept the Warriors, but dominated the first two sets 25-15 and 25-13 before winning the last set 25-23.
"We knew we were going to win the moment we walked on the court," West Morgan junior Haniyah Standridge said. "We came out with so much energy, and when we saw their faces, we knew it was over."
"Our mindset right now is just 'win.' That's literally all we think about," Standridge said.
Standridge certainly had a point. The defending champions were rattled from the moment the first ball was served and could never find a foothold in the game. Even the final set, which was decided by just two points, never felt in doubt.
"These girls have a forward focus. They know exactly what they can achieve," Parrish said. "I don't know if there's anyone that can stop them right now."
With the win, West Morgan advances to the Class 4A Super Regional to play the winner of Shades Valley vs. Jacksonville on Thursday at the Finley Center in Hoover. The Rebels will need just one win in the tournament to advance to the state tournament for the second year in a row.
With Cherokee County's loss on Monday, it's guaranteed there will be a new champion in Class 4A. West Morgan is confident they'll be one of the teams vying for the title.
"Well if it's us, it should be," Standridge said.
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Austin 3, Athens 0: Maggie Jae Marsh had 26 assists and eight digs as the Black Bears swept their way to the Class 5A Super Regional.
Addison Garth had 10 kills, and Amari Woods finished with eight digs and seven kills.
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Lawrence County 3, Fairview 0: Kamryn Melsok dropped 21 kills as the Red Devils dominated the Aggies.
LA Norwood added seven kills and seven digs, and Brileigh Strange had 20 assists.
— caleb.suggs@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2