The girls eighth grade volleyball team representing St. Joseph’s Parish in Homewood won the St. Alexander Volleyball League championship as an undefeated team in match play.
The team, coached by Tarin and Dave Dougherty, had a record at the end of the season of 30-3 moving it into the play-offs winning the first round match, two games to none, to advance to the Final 4 on Feb. 26.
The team went on to win their semi-final match, two games to none, to advance to the championship match against St. Patricia of Hickory Hills.
“We lost game one of the championship match, but turned it around and won the second game of the match,” Tarin Dougherty said. “We had to play a third game. It was an intense game of battling back and forth for every single point.”
The St. Joseph team came from behind and won 26-24.
The team won 46 out of 52 games played, losing only one match in outside tournament play.
The Doughertys have been coaching the team since the girls were fourth graders. The team members attend St. Joseph School, James Hart School and Parker Junior High.