Spain Park finishes area play with perfect 6-0 record after sweep of Pelham
Published 11:32 am Friday, October 3, 2025
- The Spain Park Jaguars wrapped up a perfect 6-0 record in area play with a sweep against Pelham despite the Panthers’ threats to steal a set late. (File)
By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor
HOOVER – The Spain Park Jaguars put the finishing touches on a perfect run through area play with their second sweep of the season against the Pelham Panthers.
Spain Park improved to 6-0 in Area 8 thanks to the 3-0 win over Pelham on Thursday, Oct. 2 at Spain Park High School.
With the sweep, the Jags finished area play having dropped just one set to area opponents and won their last 16 sets against area foes.
Spain Park got off to a strong start in the matchup with a solid lead against Pelham, one that carried the hosts into the final points and for the win.
The Jags won the first set by a score of 25-15, and the 10-point victory put them in control of the match with a 1-0 lead.
However, Pelham battled back in the second set and made the rest of the match a much closer affair. The Panthers narrowed Spain Park’s lead down from the double-digit first-set margin to a tighter one in the second set that allowed them to remain in striking distance late.
The Jags fought off the pressure and secured the win in the second set in 25-20 fashion, putting them a set win away from taking the match.
The third set proved to be the tightest of all as Pelham fought to steal a set off Spain Park and extend the match in hopes of moving up the area standings with a win.
In the end, the Panthers threatened to extend the set into extra points by trailing just 24-23 on match point, but the Jags stood tall and sealed the win.
Spain Park’s 25-23 win in the third set secured the 3-0 sweep and the 6-0 area record all in one.
For Pelham, Aubrie Smith led the offense with 11 kills while Nyssa Wynn secured eight kills and Miciah Green had four kills. Setter Bristol Hannah finished with 22 assists while Smith got three for herself. Kayla Girardin and Smith each ended the match with a pair of aces.
As for the defense, Green assisted on three of the team’s four blocks. Wynn led the team with 16 digs as Girardin got into double figures as well with 10 digs. Smith finished with eight digs, Hannah had six digs and Maliyah Dixon earned four digs.
The Jags improved to 26-5 overall with the win. The Jags will play their final regular-season home match on Monday, Oct. 6 against a fellow area champion in Class 6A, Area 5’s Chilton County Tigers. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
Before then though, they will compete in the Margaret Blalock Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 4 at Homewood High School.
The Panthers dropped to 12-21 overall and 1-4 in area play. Pelham will finish out area play on Tuesday, Oct. 7 against the rival Helena Huskies at 6 p.m. at Pelham High School.
The Panthers need a win to remain in the running for the second seed while a loss would pit them against Spain Park in the area semifinals.