Andalusia’s athleticism and skill along with its passing attack gave way to a two-match area sweep over Ashford and Straughn on Tuesday night at AHS.

With this victory, the Lady Bulldogs win the regular-season Class 4A, Area 3 title, and the right to host the area volleyball tournament next week.

AHS beat Ashford 3-0 (25-9, 25-8, 25-18) and SHS 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-15) to claim the area sweep on senior night.

“We’re excited. We’re excited,” AHS volleyball coach Angie Grimes said. “I thought the girls played well (Tuesday night). We did great on our passing, and of course great on our hits.”

Straughn clinched the No. 2 seed with its win over Ashford in the second match of the night. The Lady Tigers won 3-2 (17-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-15, 15-13) over the Lady Yellow Jackets.

SHS volleyball coach Marc Tracy said the girls got off to a slow start, but bounced right back at the mid-point of the Ashford match.

“There in the middle, obviously, we picked it up being down two games to none,” Tracy said. “Then, we won three straight. I was hoping that would give us a little confidence going into the game against Andalusia.”

The seeding between Ashford and Headland has not been determined because both split in the regular season area.

The area volleyball tournament will be held next Tuesday at AHS.

Andalusia 3, Straughn 0

Andalusia’s Shi’Amber Townsend led the Lady Bulldogs with 12 kills. Alison Daniels had eight kills and five blocks, and Omarria McGee had six aces.

The Lady Bulldogs had a 9-0 run after an early 4-0 run in the first game to pace the Lady Tigers.

AHS took a 20-7 lead late, Straughn got back on serve at 20-8 but the Lady Bulldogs got the ball back on a strong kill by Daniels at 23-8.

In game two, Andalusia had a 6-0 run early, and led 15-9 before Straughn went on a 4-0 run. The Lady Bulldogs called a time out and regrouped and put the game in cruise control, going on a 9-0 run for the win.

Andalusia claimed the match in game three in strong fashion, only allowing the Lady Tigers to tie the game up once at 8-8.

At match point (24-15), Straughn took two time outs to try and freeze Andalusia. The Lady Bulldogs served out the match for the win.

“Andalusia’s a very athletic team,” Tracy said. “They are a well-coached team. Coach Grimes does a great job here. It just kind of seemed like they (Lady Tigers) were out-manned.”

Evan Frye had six service points, Emily Hammett had three assists and Megan Johns had three digs and five kills for SHS.

Straughn 3, Ashford 2

Trailing 2-0, the Lady Tigers won three straight games to secure their second seed in the area tournament.

Straughn fell 17-25 and 23-25 in the first two games, but rallied with a 25-15 win in the third game and fourth games to force the tiebreaker fifth game.

Ashford went ahead, and had full control of the fifth game, but Straughn kept it close and secured the win.

Hammett had seven aces and seven assists, Frye had seven assists, Angel Carter had five digs, Johns and Crystal Bonds had nine kills each for the Lady Tigers.

Andalusia 3, Ashford 0

Shambrieka Burnett led the Lady Bulldogs with seven aces and Townsend had eight kills.

Andalusia had complete control of the match from the start, only allowing nine Lady Yellow Jacket points in the first game.

The Lady Bulldogs went on another 9-0 run in the first game, and capped the first game off with a 14-0 run in the second game.

Grimes said Kenna Edmondson did a good job putting the ball where it needed to be.

“Kenna had done a very good job pushing the ball to where they (Townsend and Daniels) are supposed to be,” Grimes said. “We’re working on that, pushing it outside and where we need to. I told her (Edmondson) that her job was to make bad passes look good.

“You don’t realize how much you need a setter that can do that,” he said.