Who will win the AHSAA Class 7A championship in 2024?

McGill-Toolen won its 23rd large school volleyball state championship last season by defeating Bob Jones in the Class 7A finals.

McGill-Toolen also won the 2022 championship, but can the Dirty Dozen make it three in a row this season?

Today, AL.com begins its weekly countdown of the top teams in each of the seven AHSAA classes, while also giving readers the chance to make their picks to win the championship in each class.

Class 7A is first and be sure to vote for your choice for champion in the poll below.

AL.COM CLASS 7A TOP TEAMS

8. Company

Coach: Jennifer Graham (fifth year at Enterprise)

Top players: Morgan Williams, 6-2, senior, center; Jadyn Britton, 5-9 senior (2023 AL.com 7A honorable mention All-State), OH; Abigail Wiggins, 5-8, senior OH

The skinny: The Wildcats were 40-10 last year and earned a spot in the Elite Eight before losing to champion McGill-Toolen in the semifinals. Enterprise has reached the championship tournament each of the past three years, winning the semifinals in 2022 and 2023.

First match: August 23 Juanita Boddie Tournament

7. Janssen

Coach: Judy Green (10th year at Thompson)

Top players: Kenzly Foote, 5-7, junior OH/Libero; Hannah Drexel, 5-11, senior, Middle; Maddy Henderson, 6-foot, sophomore, OH; Anna Campbell, 5-7, senior Libero

The skinny one: The Warriors were 34-9 last season and won the Elite Eight before losing in the first round to champion McGill-Toolen. Thompson has three state championships, the last coming in 1982. The Warriors have reached the championship tournament four of the past five seasons, finishing in the final four in 2020 and 2021.

First match: August 22 in Sylacauga

6. Maroon

Coach: Brian Wheatley (first year at Auburn)

Top players: Gabby Stringer, 6-2, senior, center; Kambell Fetner, 5-10, senior, center (2023 AL.com 7A honorable mention All-State); Lindsey Faison, 5-10, sophomore, OH/Middle (transfer); Olivia Throngqvist, 6-foot-1, sophomore OH/RS; Connelly Etheredge, 5-8, junior, Ohio

The skinny: Wheatley is a renowned 30-year veteran championship coach — the 2023 American Volleyball Coaches Association Coach of the Year — with six Florida state championships in Venice with 10 of his teams finishing in the national top 10. He is a member of the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame , the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame and the Venice Sports Hall of Fame.

First match: Aug. 22 at Prattville Christian

5. Huntsville

Coach: Melanie Donahoo (22nd year in Huntsville)

Top players: KeAra Bowen 6-1, senior RS (2023 AL.com 7A honorable mention All-State); Kennedy Moss 5-7, junior, OH (2023 AL.com 7A All-State); Donaji Sanchez 5-9, senior, OH

The skinny: Huntsville has won 11 state championships, 10 under Donahoo, but its last title came in 2012. The Panthers were 36-7 last season and lost to Hoover in the first round of North Super Regional action.

First match: August 22, Tri-match with Bob Jones and host Grissom

4. Bayside Academy

Coach: Ann Schilling (38th year all at Bayside)

Top players: Misty Kate Smith, 5-9, senior, center; Haley Robinson, 6-3, junior, RS (2023 AL.com 7A honorable mention All-State); MK Whitehurst, 5-4, junior, Libero; Grier Broughton, 5-8, junior, OH

The skinny: It’s Bayside’s first year in Class 7A, though the Admirals regularly play in the big-school leagues. Schilling is the state’s winningest volleyball coach with 1,726 victories and has led the Admirals to 28 state championships, with at least one title in each class. Bayside fell to Class 6A champion Mountain Brook in the semifinals last year, snapping a streak of 21 straight state championships.

First match: August 22 at Oak Mountain

3. Vacuum cleaner

Coach: Amanda Wood (third year at Hoover)

Top players: Sydney Durban, 5-6, senior, Libero (2023 AL.com 7A honorable mention All-State); Olivia Guenster, 5-6, senior, DS; Layla Smith, 5-8, senior, OH; Sydnie Broom, 6-foot-1, junior, center

The skinny: Hoover went 32-23 last season and won its second straight Elite Eight before falling to Bob Jones in the championship semifinals. Hoover won the Class 7A championship in 2020.

First match: August 22 vs. Daphne

2. Bob Jones

Coach: Jenny Jarrett (third year with Bob Jones)

Top players: Kennedy Vaughn, 5-11, senior, OH (2023 AL.com Super All-State, 7A All-State); Riley Lovell, 5-6, seniors, Setter; Kalison Beigh, 5-5, senior, Libero; Mya Lacey, 5-10, junior. Middle/Setter; Kendall Buckley, 6-foot-1, junior, OH/RS

The skinny: The Patriots have lost to McGill-Tollen in the Class 7A championship game each of the last two seasons. Bob Jones won Class 6A titles – the largest classification at the time – in 2008 and 2013.

First match: Aug. 22, tri-match with Huntsville and host Grissom

1. McGill Tools

Coach: Kate Wood (11th year at McGill-Toolen)

Top players: Paris McQuirter, 5-9, senior, OH (2023 AL.com Super All-State, 7A Player of the Year, 7A All-State); Alice Wood, 5-9, sophomore, Setter; Jaedyn Lang, 5-9, junior, Middle; Catherine McClain, 5-9, junior, OH; Payton McClarren, 5-2, junior, DS; Cami Huff, 6-2, junior, Middle (transferred and served 2023); Bella Smith, 5-4, sophomore, DS; Caitlin Miller, 6-foot, sophomore, Center

The skinny one: McGill-Toolen has a state record 23 major school titles, including the last two in a row in Class 7A and four total under Wood. The Dirty Dozen also won the 2021 championship game before losing to Spain Park.

First match: August 22 in Spain Park

BEST OF THE REST

St. Paul’s, Vestavia Hills, Daphne, Oak Mountain, Fairhope, Sparkman

EN ROUTE

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa moves up from Class 6A, while Chelsea and Spain Park move up to Class 6A.

FANS’ CHOICE POLL

Vote for your choice for the Class 7A champion in the poll below. Don’t forget to click “COMPLETE SURVEY” to submit your vote.

If you can’t see the image below, go here.

Voting closes on Sunday and results will be announced on Monday.