Russellville volleyball looks to build on record-setting season
RUSSELLVILLE — After a record-setting 2025 season, Russellville’s varsity volleyball team enters this year with a simple message from head coach Madison Lamon: Get 1% better every day.
Lamon said the Golden Tigers finished 41-16 last season, setting a school record for wins. She said the team also captured the program’s first area championship under the current postseason format and returned to regionals for the first time in 10 years.
“We’re still on a high from it, but we know that we’ve got to reset for this coming year, because it’s not going to be just given to us,” Lamon said. “We’ve got to earn that title back.”
Russellville defeated Lawrence County to win the area championship, then beat Northside in the first round at regionals. The Golden Tigers fell in the second round to Guntersville, which went on to win the state championship.
She said this year’s team wants to maintain the standard established last season while continuing to improve.
“I want us to be able to compete with all schools, even the ones, the 7A, 6As that are moving down to 5A now,” Lamon said. “I want our girls to know that we are good enough to compete with groups like that.”
She said Russellville returns most of last year’s roster after losing two seniors to graduation, Laila Hill and Fatima Ramirez.
Lamon said Hill, an outside hitter, recorded 450 kills last season and broke the school record for kills in a season. Hill is continuing her volleyball career at Northwest Shoals Community College.
Ramirez was Russellville’s primary setter and helped run the offense. Lamon said Ramirez was also a strong server and defensive player.
She said junior Bri McCulloch returns at libero after earning Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year honors from Al.com last season. Lamon said McCulloch’s competitiveness and willingness to pursue difficult balls are among her strengths.
“She goes after the ball,” she said. “Balls people think might be hitting the floor, she’s at least going to dive a body at it and try to get it up. She hustles hard for me.”
Lamon said junior Blevyn Sappington will take on a larger role this season as an outside hitter and is expected to play all six rotations.
“She’s strong in defense and she’s strong in offense,” she said. “She’s great in whatever role she’s in.”
Lamon said junior Brookelynn Davis is moving from right-side hitter to outside hitter. She said Davis has worked hard throughout the summer and will have more opportunities to touch the ball in her new role.
Lamon said junior Bella Malone returns as a middle hitter, while Alexia Groce, the team’s only senior, will play setter and defensive specialist.
Freshman Samantha Wilson will also move up after joining the varsity team during last year’s postseason. She said Wilson had played setter and right side on junior varsity before Lamon moved her to middle for the area and regional tournaments.
“She wasn’t scared at all,” Lamon said of Wilson’s postseason experience. “She was very strong. She took correction very well.”
She said Wilson’s blocking and quickness stood out during the summer.
Russellville’s other varsity players are juniors Erin Grimes, Adaleigh Smith and Aubree Hyde. Lamon said freshman Ella-Blayke Wimberley will begin the season on junior varsity and join varsity for tournaments.
She said serving and hustle are two of the team’s strengths.
“I have girls that will run through brick walls if I told them to,” Lamon said. “The hustling is going to be what’s going to get us the farthest.”
She said serve receive remains an area the team is also working to improve.
