All five area volleyball teams – including two teams that advanced to the Elite Eight Tournament last fall – will open their 2010 seasons this afternoon.
Hartselle will travel to Addison to face the Lady Bulldogs and Curry, while Danville will play at Madison Academy in a tri-match with the Lady Mustangs and Catholic.
Falkville will host Fairview, Priceville will play at Whitesburg Christian and Brewer will host Athens.
Hartselle will have just one senior this season – libero Chelsea Bennich – from the team that lost to St. Paul’s in the quarterfinals of the state tournament in 2009.
The Lady Tigers will have six juniors this year, including all-area outside hitter Olivia Golden and middle blocker Katelyn Hill.
Danville should again contend for a spot in the Elite Eight tournament after losing to Montgomery Academy in the first round last season.
Priceville might be one of the most experienced teams in the area with five seniors – Caitlin Cowart, Kara Haynes, Jordan Crow, Sydney McLendon and Tara Taylor.
The Lady Bulldogs will get a big test early with a matchup with Class 5A Athens on the road Tuesday afternoon.
Brewer lost all-area players Chelsey Smith and Elizabeth Bromirski, but return seniors Hannah Crawford and Noel Brown.
Crawford is one of the top defensive players in the area.
The Lady Patriots will host the annual Brewer Invitational Saturday, a tournament that brings many of the top programs in north Alabama to Florette, including Class 5A rival Hartselle.