MVC team strikes gold
The Madison Volleyball Club’s 121 Power Team recently won gold medals at the Southern Region Volleyball tournament in Atlanta. Team members include, back row from left, Coach Keyana Malone, Abbi Dempsey, Adeline Barnes, Parker Runnion, Shelby Dean Miller, Sarah Barlow, Tannyr Dudley and Coach Tynesha Malone. On front row, from left, are Stevie Hovater, Lydia Lauderback, Ariel Fuqua, Claire Persaud and Meg Jarrett. CONTRIBUTED
By MIKE EASTERLING / For the Record
MADISON – Sisters Tynesha and Keyana Malone have more in common than a last name.
They’re both volleyball lifers and have often met with success, something they’ve shared with the Madison Volleyball Club 12-and-under 121 Power Team.
The squad played in six tournaments, two in the 13U division, from January through mid-April and placed second three times. One of those seconds came in a 13U event.
MVC saved its masterpiece for the Southern Region Volleyball Association tournament at Atlanta’s Georgia World Convention Center April 23-24.
In a 46-team field, MVC came in ranked No. 2 and didn’t lose in 14 sets of seven victories to win the 12U Gold Bracket.
“We played our most consistent at regionals,’’ Tynesha Malone said. “We only came close to losing one set and won that one 27-25. In the other sets, none of our opponents scored more than 16.’’
Tynesha, 32, and Keyana, 30, played on three state championship teams at Muscle Shoals High School and were on the coaching staff when Bob Jones was state runner-up in 2011 and champion in 2013.
The siblings are in their third year with MVC.
“This has been the most talented group of girls all around that we’ve had,’’ Tynesha said.
Power Team returned only three players from last season in Parker Runnion, Adeline Barnes and Ariel Fuqua. Most team members are currently in middle school tryouts and Shelby Dean Miller, Stevie Hovater and Sarah Barlow have already made the team at Liberty.
