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Escambia Academy’s junior varsity volleyball team finished runner up in the 2023 AISA Class 1A at Meadowview Christian in Selma.

Volleyball coach Mandi Carter said while it was a long day, it was worth it all.

“You could not tell my girls that they didn’t win because to them, they were victorious,” Carter said. “No other JV volleyball team has gotten this far before. In our huddle before the final game, I told the girls that they had a whole community rooting for them.

“Not only did they play hard and lay it all down for our school, they gave their all for our ninth graders, Kate Davis, Zyneria McNeal and Treasure Riley,” she said. “Those girls will be greatly missed next year, but they have a great legacy coming up behind them.”

Carter added that as their coach, she couldn’t be more proud of the fight and determination in all of the players.

In the final against Meadowview, the Lady Cougars fell 17-25, 8-25. In the semifinal, EA beat Coosa Valley 25-21, 18-25, 15-13.

In the other rounds, Meadowview beat EA 12-25, 11-25; the Lady Cougars beat Coosa 26-24, 25-16; and beat Heritage Christian 25-9, 25-8.

Davis was named to the All-Tournament Team.