Alabama High School Volleyball Season Kicks Off

Hoover, Alabama, August 21, 2025

News Summary

The Alabama High School Athletic Association volleyball season launches with the 43rd annual Juanita Boddie Tournament in Hoover. This tournament highlights the best of Alabama’s volleyball talent, as teams prepare for the upcoming season. Additionally, the AHSAA’s A-List acknowledges top senior players, while the football season begins with the Kickoff Classic featuring significant matchups. Coaches emphasize preparation as schools gear up for competitive play in both volleyball and football, showcasing Alabama’s commitment to high school athletics.

Hoover, Alabama – The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) volleyball season officially kicks off with the highly anticipated 43rd annual Juanita Boddie Tournament starting this Friday in Hoover. This tournament marks a significant event in the state’s high school volleyball calendar, setting the stage for upcoming matches and tournaments that will showcase the best talent Alabama has to offer.

As the tournament gets underway, several teams are preparing to head to Birmingham for various matches scheduled on Thursday. In addition, numerous tri-matches are slated to take place across the state, providing players an opportunity to compete and demonstrate their skills in early-season matchups.

Update on player recognition comes as AL.com releases its A-List, featuring Alabama’s top senior volleyball players. The list highlights the top 10 players and includes another 30 seniors who are anticipated to make a significant impact this season. This recognition sets the tone for an exciting year ahead for high school volleyball in Alabama.

The high school football scene is also gearing up, with the Kickoff Classic commencing on Thursday, August 21. The event features key matchups, including Prattville against Pike Road and Fyffe facing Maplesville. Fyffe’s football coach, Paul Benefield, who has recorded an impressive 360 career wins, has mentioned the importance of maintaining focus, noting that past accomplishments do not guarantee future success.

Fyffe’s first game of the season will be against Maplesville, the Class 1A runner-up in 2024, who finished last season under the leadership of Coach Abbott. Fyffe concluded the previous season with a record of 9-3, marking the first time since 2010 that the team did not reach 10 wins. In contrast, Maplesville has a record of 170-29 spanning the years 2010 to 2024, establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the state.

Both Coach Benefield and Coach Abbott expressed mutual respect for their respective programs as they prepare for the competition. The Kickoff Classic will be broadcasted statewide by WOTM TV and Alabama Public Television, allowing fans across the state to support their teams.

Alongside these key matchups is the debut of Bobby Carr as the new coach for Prattville High School, bringing with him over 250 career wins. Prattville finished last season with a 5-5 record and has not made it to the playoffs since 2021. Carr will lead his team into their first game against Pike Road on Thursday. Pike Road, having reached the Class 6A semifinals in 2023 and boasting a strong performance with a record of 53-13 this decade, poses a considerable challenge for Prattville.

This year’s Kickoff Classic marks the second appearance for teams like Pike Road, Fyffe, and Maplesville, while Prattville is participating for the seventh time, the most of any school in the state. Historically, Prattville has a 3-3 record in the Classic, with one game impacted by rain back in 2008. Coaches Carr and Pike Road’s Granger Shook have been working on execution strategies for their respective teams, understanding the significance of this opening game.

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Additional Resources

• AL.com: Key AHSAA Matchups
• AHSAA News: 2025 Kickoff Classic
• Gadsden Times: Athletes to Watch
• Wikipedia: High School Football in the United States
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Volleyball

Author: STAFF HERE BIRMINGHAM WRITER

The BIRMINGHAM STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBirmingham.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Birmingham, Jefferson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Sidewalk Film Festival, Sloss Music & Arts Festival, Magic City Classic, and civil rights commemorations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as UAB Medicine, Regions Bank, and Encompass Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREHuntsville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.