Birmingham, AL – Led by MVP Ace Austin, Spring Garden adds third state volleyball title, second in a row, will soon start working toward 10th in girls‘ basketball title.
By Joe Medley
Ron Ingram has been around Alabama high school sports for a long time, and the AHSAA spokesman knows a sure thing when he sees it.
He ended Spring Garden’s state-volleyball postgame news conference Thursday with words that were equal parts a statement of the obvious and a pleasantry.
“We’ll see you back here in Birmingham in a few months,” he said as he dismissed the Spring Garden contingent.
Death, taxes and Spring Garden’s girls winning state championships.
The Panthers finished off a postseason sweep Thursday, beating University Charter 25-19, 25-23, 25-22 to clinch their third state volleyball championship and second in as many years.
For most valuable player Ace Austin, it was state title No. 5 … two in volleyball and three in basketball.
Austin said the feeling never gets old.
“There’s many people that’s not sitting here in this seat right now that wishes they had one,” said the Alabama basketball commit and two-time state volleyball MVP. “It’s special.
“A lot of people say, ‘Can I borrow one?’ We worked our tails off for this one. Sorry, we’re not sharing it.”
Oh, by the way, basketball practice starts Monday. Several volleyball players also play basketball.
And yes, Spring Garden is favored to win its third consecutive Class 1A state basketball title and 10th state title in girls’ basketball.
“We’ll probably get comfortable in our practice gear Monday,” said Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin, also the school’s long-time girls’ basketball coach. “We’ll have a light day Monday and Tuesday, but we’re not going to take any of this away. We’re going to enjoy this.
“Last year, I thought we did this just right. We eased into it. I was patient. They were patient, and I told them, ‘There will be a time in a season where I know it’s time for me to crack down,’ and that was some time right before Christmas break.”
Thursday’s volleyball final held Spring Garden’s postseason form. They didn’t lose a set through the area, regional and state tournaments.
Ace Austin mounted 31 kills in 74 attempts. Setter Avey Steward delivered 45 assists on the way to making the all-tournament team.
Olivia Law’s team-high 17 digs landed her on the all-tournament team, and Maggie Jarrett made it four all-tournament picks for Spring Garden with 11 kills and 10 digs.
Ace Austin lobbied for libero Kristen Lewis, who finished with 13 digs.
“I would do anything for our libero to be on the all-tournament team,” Ace Austin said. “She works her tail off. Without her, we wouldn’t be who we are.”
After the match, Lewis made the rounds with hugs. Starting with Ricky Austin, she worked her way down the bench, hugging every player and coach.
“I just know that, on the bus, she is a live wire,” Ricky Austin said. “The bus is bouncing in the back, because she is dancing.
“We’re going to miss that. That energy, that’s the way she is every day at practice.”
With Ace Austin’s kills, Steward’s assists, Law’s digs, Jarrett’s total contribution and Lewis’ energy, the Panthers fought off UCS rallies in the second and third sets.
Ricky Austin said he felt “relief” when the match ended, the kind of relief that comes with met expectations.
“You know you’ve got this kind of team,” he said, choking back emotion. “You don’t want to see disappointment.
“I’m just proud.”
There’s also emotion that comes with matching Spring Garden’s basketball championship chops with volleyball championship chops.
“We always grew up with basketball as our sport,” Law said. “Definitely, winning it in volleyball kind of makes that our thing, too.”
