SPANISH FORT, Ala.—The Class 5A No. 1-ranked Saints took the Fort Tuesday in a battle of probable 5A Area volleyball champions. St. Paul’s defeated the Toros 25-19, 25-13, 25-13 and improved to 36-12 overall and 4-0 in 5A Area 1.

Spanish Fort which has clinched first place in 5A Area 2 fell to 17-10. The Toros will host their area tournament and St. Paul’s is expected to win out it’s remaining area games as well. Both teams met in the Elite Eight state championship last year with the Saints winning 3-1. The two clubs could meet again in postseason play before then this year.

“We could see them again in round two of sub-state,” said St. Paul’s coach Kelli Hillier of the Toros. “We still have some area matches left including Faith.” The Faith Academy Rams will likely finish as the runner-up in Area 1 ahead of LeFlore and Vigor while Gulf Shores has locked into second place in Area 2 with B.C. Rain in the three slot.

The Saints were led by Shelly Spires with 10 kills, three aces and eight digs, Kourtney Wadkins with nine kills and six aces, Olivia Scarcliff set for 23 assists, Morgan Eiland added five kills and three aces, Kittie Harless and Ali Sutherland had six digs each and Bradley Carrington finished with four kills.

Mia Barraza led the Toros with three kills and six digs, Anna Claire Whaley and Sami Pote added three each, Brianna Rider had 11 set assists, Kelsie McCombs and Victoria Morris had six digs each and Savannah Lee served for two aces.

St. Paul’s is taking the weekend off. Spanish Fort is playing in the Shrimp Fest Invitational tournament hosted by Gulf Shores. The Toros are set to open pool play at the Gulf Shores Rec Center.