Birmingham, AL – Sidelined briefly with a racing heart, Henry returns to help Pleasant Valley rally for third trip to state finals in three seasons.
By Joe Medley
Lily Henry’s latest episode of a racing heart could’ve come at a worse time than the third set of a state semifinal volleyball match.
It came and went in time for Pleasant Valley’s senior hitter and team leader to return to action and help her team earn its third consecutive state-final berth.
Henry finished with 20 kills, and the Raiders rallied to beat Mars Hill Bible 25-22, 22-25, 18-25, 25-17, 15-12 at Birmingham CrossPlex.
Defending Class 2A champion Pleasant Valley (24-18) will play Lindsay Lane (44-15) in Wednesday’s 12:30 p.m. 2A final in Bill Harris Arena.
The journey back to the final took Henry from palpitations to palpable relief.
“It means everything,” Henry said. “We’re so blessed to have this opportunity, and we just love each other so much. We’ve worked to hard, and it just means so much.”
Pleasant Valley’s runs to the finals have come with challenges. A flu outbreak hit the Raiders ahead of their loss to Donoho in the 2022 finals.
They beat Sand Rock in the 2023 final to win the program’s first state title under then-retiring head coach Dana Bryant. Emotions came with sending her out on top after an 18-year run as head coach.
This year’s team came through change. First-year head coach Jennifer Mann took over for her former boss, and the Raiders had to replace key seniors, most notably setter Maddie Schwabe and Allie Bryant, the former coach’s youngest daughter.
“We started the season with a lot of changes, a lot of naysayers who didn’t think that we could make it here,” Mann said. “These girls put the work in, and it’s our tradition.
”We are an established program, and they have carried that on.”
Pleasant Valley’s return trip to Birmingham this year got started with a Monday night dinner disappointment. Their $221 DoorDash order from Mellow Mushroom never showed up at the team’s hotel. After waiting for hours, they went to MugShots for a late dinner.
Pleasant Valley’s Tuesday started with a 25-21, 25-14, 25-12 victory over Horseshoe Bend in the quarterfinals.
The Raiders won the opening set of their semifinal match, but Mars Hill drew even in the second set. Mars Hill led 15-14 in the third when Henry came to the bench and informed Mann of her latest episode of a racing heart.
“Sometimes my heart, and I don’t know why, but my heart will start beating really fast, like out of my chest, and it will shake my whole shirt, it’s beating so hard,” she said. “I went to the doctor for it, and they said nothing’s wrong with me. It just happens sometimes.”
Henry’s mother, Amanda, came to the bench and brought Henry fluids, which she gulped in hopes of slowing her heart. Meanwhile, Mars Hill went on a mini-run to lead 20-14.
Tears started to run down Henry’s face.
“I was just getting really frustrated, because I knew I needed to be out there for my team,” she said. “It just wouldn’t stop. That’s why I was really upset. I just wanted to get back out there.
“It finally stopped, and I went in. Once it stops, I’m good.”
Mars Hill went on to win the third set 25-18. Pleasant Valley had to win a fourth set to force a fifth in the best-of-3 match, and the Raiders took the fourth set 25-17.
“It was just like, we’re not losing,” Henry said. “It was a refuse-to-lose mentality, and we just all came together.
“I knew, in my heart, we were going to do this, and we came together and did it.”
Pleasant Valley’s top performers
Pleasant Valley’s top performers:
—Lily Henry: 33 kills, three blocks, three assists, five aces, 38 digs.
—Madison Schwabe: 19 kills, 24 digs, two blocks, two aces, one assist.
—Ella Parris: 12 kills, 15 blocks, two aces, 18 digs.
—Ellie Patterson: 16 kills, 24 blocks, two digs.
—Elise Wheeler: two blocks, 68 assists, 18 digs.
—Cailey Almaroad: four blocks, 15 digs, one ace.
—Janette Turner: 18 digs, one ace.
—Ava Washington: four assists.
—Bella Uesry: one kill, one block.
—Hanna Henry: one block, one ace.
—Zalie Curvin: four digs.
