McGill-Toolen Won Fourth Consecutive State Volleyball Title

The team defeated Thompson in four sets to capture their 25th state championship in program history.

Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Volleyball

Expressive editorial sports illustration showing a volleyball player mid-air spiking a ball with dynamic brush strokes in yellow and navy. — McGill-Toolen Catholic High School secured their 25th state volleyball championship with a victory over Thompson at Bill Harris Arena. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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McGill-Toolen Catholic High School secured their fourth consecutive Class 7A volleyball state championship by defeating Thompson 3-1. The team concluded their dominant season with a 41-match winning streak.

Why it matters

This victory cements McGill-Toolen as a perennial powerhouse in Alabama athletics, bringing their total state title count to 25. Their ability to maintain a 47-2 record highlights the team's exceptional consistency and skill.

McGill-Toolen clinched the match with set scores of 25-20, 29-31, 25-21, and 25-17. Key individual efforts included 20 kills by Catherine McClain and 21 digs from Bella Smith, contributing to a team total of 65 digs.

The players

McGill-Toolen Catholic High School

A high school in Mobile that maintains a highly competitive volleyball program.

Thompson High School

A high school that competed in the Class 7A volleyball state championship match.

Catherine McClain

A standout player who recorded 20 kills in the championship victory.

Bella Smith

A key defensive player who contributed 21 digs during the title match.

The details

McGill-Toolen Catholic utilized superior defensive performance and ball control to overcome Thompson at Bill Harris Arena. After splitting the first two sets, McGill-Toolen dominated the final two to secure the title.

August 29, 2026: McGill-Toolen lost to Aledo.
October 1, 2026: McGill-Toolen won the state championship match.

Season Trajectory

This fourth consecutive championship validates the program's long-term dominance within the Class 7A landscape. It reinforces their position as the benchmark for competitive balance in the state's highest classification.

The victory marks the completion of a season with a 47-2 record and a 41-match winning streak for the Yellow Jackets. McGill-Toolen successfully defended their 7A title by overcoming a 31-12 Thompson squad.

The takeaway

Maintaining a high-level program requires both top-tier individual performance and exceptional team defense. Students and aspiring athletes can look to this roster's discipline as a blueprint for sustained success.