AL.com’s analysis of the top state high school volleyball teams and players continues today with AHSAA Class 2A.

Volleyball practice starts on Aug. 4 and the first matches will be played on Aug. 21.

Check out the AL.com sports staff picks as the top contenders in Class 2A.

Championship contenders

Pleasant Valley earned its second straight title last season — first under head coach Jennifer Mann, who was also an assistant on the 2023 team and won three titles as a player under Hall of Fame Pleasant Valley coach Sandy Hunter. The Raiders lost class Player of the Year Lily Henry to graduation, but she was the only senior on the championship team that included class Defensive MVP Madison Schwabe.

Winston County won its only title in 2001, but the Yellow Jackets are always a tough out and won to the semifinal round last year with a lineup that returns its key players, including Lynleigh Cobb with 703 kills last season.

G.W. Long has reached the Elite 8 each of the past eight seasons under coach Craig Long with a championship in 2019 and three more semifinal finishes. Essential players, including class Setter MVP Sawyer Hughes, return from last year’s group.

Lindsay Lane lost to Pleasant Valley in last year’s title match — its fourth trip to at least the semifinal round — behind graduated class Attacker of the Year Lydia Carter. The Lions regroup with a strong attack and experienced setter.

Teams to watch (A-Z)

Ariton

Belgreen

Cedar Bluff

Covenant Christian

Lexington

Mars Hill Bible

Sand Rock

Southeastern

Tuscaloosa Academy

West End

Westminster-Oak Mountain

Players to watch (A-Z)

Jaylee Calloway, Winston County, Sr., OH

Savannah Cherry, Southeastern, Jr., Middle

Maddie Clanton, Sand Rock, Jr., Setter

Saydee Coan, Covenant Christian, Fr., Setter

Lynleigh Cobb, Winston County, Sr., OH

Macy Davis, Lexington, Jr., Libero

Ella Estave, Covenant Christian, Sr., Libero

Kaylie Foster, G.W. Long, Jr., OH

Anna Claire Free, Ariton, Jr., OH

Kindal Grace, Cedar Bluff, Sr., OH

Kenzi Grantham, Ariton, So., Middle/Setter/RS

Riley Green, Lindsay Lane, Jr., Setter

Zoe Griffin, Covenant Christian, Sr., OH

Raina Gunter, Washington County, Sr., Middle

Isleigh Hicks, Southeastern, 5-8, Sr., Middle/Setter

Janaya Higgins, Cedar Bluff, Sr., Middle

Paitlyn Hughes, Sand Rock, Jr., Libero

Sawyer Hughes, G.W. Long, Jr., Setter

Kate James, Mars Hill Bible, So., Setter

Kalyn Jones, Lindsay Lane, Jr., Middle

Kaylie Joseph, G.W. Long, Sr., Middle

Caitlyn Lynch, Sand Rock, Sr., Middle

Maddie McKinley, Washington County, Sr., Middle

Kathleen Moncus, Lexington, Jr., Setter/RS

Olivia Montgomery, Westminster-Oak Mountain, Sr., Outside Hitter

Ella Parris, Pleasant Valley, Sr., Middle/DS

Anna Parrish, Winston County, Jr., Middle

Ellie Patterson, Pleasant Valley, Jr., Middle

Madison Schwabe, Pleasant Valley, Sr., OH/DS

Bryn Scott, Belgreen, Sr., Libero

Marli Stewart, Winston County, Sr., Setter

Alayna Tate, Belgreen, Sr., Setter

Bella Turner, Washington County, Sr., Libero

Sarah Turvey, Ariton, Sr., OH/DS

Georgia Valentine, Westminster-Oak Mountain, Sr., Outside Hitter

Rylie Walker, Cedar Bluff, Sr., Setter

Elise Wheeler, Pleasant Valley, Jr., Setter

Brenlee White, Lexington, Sr., Middle

Lilliana Willingham, Belgreen, Jr., Middle

Kelsy Wilson, Cold Springs, Jr., Middle

Molly Wright, Mars Hill Bible, Jr., OH/DS