ISABELLA – This year marks the 13th season for the Isabella volleyball program, and the Mustangs have won their area tournament in each of those seasons.

On Monday, IHS stormed back from a Set 1 loss to Thorsby to win the latest of its area titles, 3-1 (18-25, 25-15, 25-13, 25-9).

Thorsby advanced to the championship match by defeating Billingsley, 3-0 (25-23, 25-4, 25-14), in the first contest of the evening.

That win guaranteed THS at least a second-place finish in the Class 2A, Area 8 tournament and a berth in a regional tournament on Saturday.

Thorsby and Isabella will travel to the same location for a regional tournament, but the site is still to be determined.

The area all-tournament team included Billingsley’s Lori Davis; Thorsby’s Kendra Dawson and Holly Smith; and Isabella’s Khadijah Craig, Kaylynn Culp, Savannah Kissel and Amber Wyatt, who was also named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Sade’ Archie blocked an Isabella hit and then served an ace for another point to give Thorsby a 16-9 lead in the first set, and the Rebels would go on to win.

But Isabella tightened up their game in the following sets and won handily.

Wyatt posted 17 kills in the championship match, and Jessica Maciel had 22 assists. Kissel added seven aces and six kills.