Staff photo.
Hewitt’s Julia Stalls (9) serves ball during the Hewitt Trussville vs. Vestavia Hills volleyball game at Vestavia Hills High School in October 2024.
The Hewitt-Trussville volleyball team took a step forward in 2024 under first-year head coach Andie Freedman. Now, as her second season begins, Freedman and the Huskies are looking to take a much bigger leap.
The Huskies came close to reaching the Class 7A North Super Regional a season ago, falling just short in a competitive area that included eventual state semifinalist Vestavia Hills. That near-miss, combined with a strong offseason and returning core, has the Huskies believing this could be the year they break through.
“We definitely got very close last year,” Freedman said. “That’s the goal, that’s what these girls want. They want the opportunity to compete and go to regionals.”
That mindset carried into the offseason. The Huskies played a challenging summer slate that included tournaments and play dates in the Over the Mountain League, at Foley and at other top programs across the state.
Freedman said her team has grown tremendously since the end of last season, both on the court and off it.
“We have excellent team chemistry this year,” she said. “It’s just a really close-knit group, and I’ve seen a lot of growth from that group over the summer.”
That growth is evident across the roster. Junior setter Kayleigh Nguyen returns and will be a key leader on the floor. She’ll be a steady presence on the service line and is expected to play all six rotations. Sophomore Johnna Cox returns as an outside hitter after making a strong impression as a freshman and playing all over the court. Senior Reese Wolfe is another returning pin hitter with valuable experience.
In the middle, Freedman is looking to replace both starters from last season. Senior Julia Stalls, who played opposite last fall, has moved into the middle, and junior Caroline Colburn is a 6-footer who gained valuable experience on a strong club team in the spring. Freshman Loren Purnell is another player to watch as she makes the jump to varsity.
On the right side, Addison Chrisenberry, Colburn and others provide flexibility and options.
Defensively, sophomore Christiana Callens returns as the team’s libero after emerging last year. She’ll be backed by senior Reese Jackson and junior Presley Hull, giving the Huskies strong depth and experience on the back row.
The Huskies will compete in Class 7A, Area 7, with Vestavia Hills, Huntsville, Grissom and Albertville. They’ll also test themselves against high-level competition during the regular season, playing in events such as the Juanita Boddie Tournament, the Tournament of Champions in Guntersville, the Margaret Blalock Tournament and the Huskies’ own Husky Challenge in September.
The Huskies will also take on several strong programs in the regular season, playing the likes of Mountain Brook, Spain Park, Hoover, Oak Mountain, Briarwood and Thompson.
“We have a really good team,” Freedman said. “Our ultimate goal is to advance in the postseason this year.”
