As one of the key players in Morgan Academy’s area volleyball tournament win, Ashley Friday is the female athlete of the week.

Friday, a junior, had eight kills in two matches that helped the Lady Senators secure the Alabama Independent School Association Class 2A Region 2 title this week and claim a No. 1 Seed in the AISA State Final Four in Montgomery this Saturday.

As a middle hitter, Friday said she plays all around, serves, plays defense and hits.

She added that she enjoys tipping the ball over the net and just out of the opposing team’s reach when she attacks.

“I like to hit, but sometimes hitting doesn’t get it. I tip a lot and I see the holes on the other team — that’s kind of what a middle hitter does,” Friday said. “When I go up, I look around the whole court and you see the holes and you tip there. I like to tip a lot and kind of fool the other team.”

In helping lead the Lady Senators to a 34-6 record on their way to the state final four, Friday said she wouldn’t trade the bond this team has developed on their way to their ultimate goal.

“I love this team. I wouldn’t ask for anything but to share this journey with any other girls except for these,” Friday said. “We’ve been together since seventh grade, we played together and we know how each other plays.

“From the beginning, ever since we started workouts this summer, we knew that we had one thing on our minds, and that was to go to state. We just worked really hard, and it’s just an anxious feeling to have this week knowing that Saturday’s coming.”