Meadowview Christian started its volleyball season Friday at the Tiger Jam Volleyball Tournament in Oxford.

The Trojans finished first in their pool Friday and qualified for the gold portion of the tournament Saturday, which is for the tournament’s top performing teams. Meadowview won five of six sets Friday in matches against Cornerstone Christian, Victory-Millbrook and Marshall Christian.

“We started off really slow. We looked back, but we were able to accumulate enough points to make it to the gold bracket,” said Trojans head coach Tim Burton. “It’s the first time they’ve been on the court for a real game this year, and I lost my three starters last year, so I’ve got to replace them. They are trying to step up, and I think they are doing a pretty good job.”

There were three pools for Friday’s matches and the winner of each pool automatically advanced to the gold tournament Saturday. A fourth team — the highest scoring team that didn’t win its pool — also advanced.

The tournament, which is being played at the Bynum Community Center in Eastaboga, is the first test for a Meadowview volleyball team that is trying to reload after last year’s third place finish in the Alabama Christian Athletic Association state tournament.

Christina Dabit, Maggie Tipton and Mallory Freine were all starters who return from last year’s team.

Burton was proud of how some of the team’s new starters stepped up Saturday, especially once

Meadowview lost its only set of the day against Marshall. Meadowview lost the first set of that match 25-24 but won the second and final set 25-13.

“It was [good to see], especially when they came back and actually played decent in the second set,” Burton said.

Meadowview will play again Saturday at 11 a.m., but the Trojans did not know who their opponent would be Friday night.