Warriors Sweep Wildcats on a Special Senior Night

The number one ranked Thompson Warriors put a fitting end on their regular season area schedule Tuesday, September 29 with an easy Senior Night sweep of the Tuscaloosa County Wildcats 25-9, 25-14, 25-18. The win marks their sixth in row ahead of their area showdown with Hoover later this week.

After the game, Judy Green took some time to talk about the senior class that’s been very special for her program at Thompson.

“Always fun to get a win on Senior Night. These eight seniors have given so much to this program in so many ways,” said Green. “It's a privilege to have coached them and watch them grow into the outstanding young women they are. They are complete student athletes who represent Thompson high school well.”

The 2022 senior class is a special one and one of the cornerstones of the program who has seen metro championships, the Sweet Sixteen, the Elite Eight and last year’s appearance in the Final Four.

Caroline Canaday, Marlee Windham, Jada White, Baylee Southern, Samia Mason, Bri Wilson, Madison Touhey and Lainey Sabo headline a senior class that has brought Thompson their first number one ranking in 7A and continue to make their mark as the season rolls on as one of the winningest classes in school history.

Thompson (18-5, 4-1) started out white hot and maintained it throughout the first set. The Warriors scored the first five points and seven of the first eight overall. Senior Bri Wilson scored two kills in that stretch and five in the set to get her team out to a good start.

The Wildcats would get as close as 14-7, Thompson went on an 11-2 run to finish the set to go up 1-0. Seniors Laney Sabo and Baylee Southern also recorded kills in the set with Southern adding an ace.

The Warriors took their game to yet another level as senior setter Madison Touhey entered the match in the second set. The offense was unstoppable as she set up Kaitlyn Grant, Caroline Canaday, Wilson and Southern time and again as they jumped out to a 19-4 lead and cruised from there.

Thompson’s 8-0 streak in the middle of the set was particularly impressive as senior Jada White stepped to the service spot and laced two aces to key the run. White would finish with three of the Warriors’ seven aces on the evening. Green took notice and complimented her team’s defense as well.

“I thought we played well tonight especially from a serving and passing perspective,” said Green. “Our blockers also worked really hard and got tons of touches which helps our backcourt defense tremendously.”

Tuscaloosa County made a good push in the third set getting as close as 17-16 late, but Bri Wilson and get teammates seemed to have an answer every time. Wilson added four more kills giving her a game-high 12 for the night. Kaitlyn Grant finished with five kills and two blocks, Caroline Canaday also recorded five kills and Baylee Southern added four with an ace, respectively.

Thompson will face Hoover next Thursday, September 30 at 6 p.m. in a match that will likely determine who will host the Area 5 tournament next month.