Panthers volleyball aiming for another area title run

Elmore County’s volleyball has repeatedly proved its status as one of the most consistent programs in the state. Now, moving into Class 4A and into a new region, the Panthers will find out if 2026 will be the year that their streak of area championships will end. In Area 6, the Panthers will still face Beauregard and Valley as their area opponents, but adding county rival Tallassee to the mix after the two were sorted into the same classification. 

Under ECHS coach Kim Moncrief, the Panthers are back to business with weightlifting and open gym three days a week. On Thursday, Moncrief and the Panthers hosted their first play date of the summer, welcoming four additional schools’ varsity and junior varsity teams, including Chilton County, Benjamin Russell, Wetumpka and Stanhope Elmore. Each team played four games timed at 20 minutes apiece.