Andalusia defeated Ashford 3-0 Tuesday night, claiming the Class 4A, Area 3 volleyball championship at Andalusia.

The Lady Bulldogs won 25-11, 25-23, 25-17, and will be the No. 1 seed at the Class 4A South Regional Tournament this Saturday, and will play the runner up in Area 1. The location will be determined by the result of the Class 4A, Area 2 tournament.

In 2009, Andalusia beat Clarke County 3-2 in a close battle to claim the title. Clarke County is currently playing in Class 3A, Area 1.

AHS coach Angie Grimes said her team can’t be in a better position heading into the regional tournament.

“For seeding purposes for the regional tournament, we’re sitting in the best place we can be,” she said.

Andalusia advanced to the championship match against Ashford by defeating Headland 3-0 (25-9, 25-5, 25-19) in the first round of the single elimination tournament.

Andalusia’s A.C. Riley led in the assists category with 40 against Headland. Riley also had 16 service points and six aces. Elli Pollock had 21 digs; Erica Staley had six aces; and Shi’Amber Townsend had five aces, 14 attacks and eight kills. Statistics from the area championship match were not provided.

In earlier volleyball action Tuesday night, Straughn bowed out of the tournament, falling to Ashford 3-2 (25-23, 25-18, 17-25, 24-26, 13-15).

“It was a rough way to end it,” SHS assistant coach Marc Tracy said. “I don’t really know how to explain it. It’s something that’s bit us all year. We never got a way to just close out a game all year. You see that a lot, especially at this level of sports.

“We’re going to get ready for next year, and that’s all you can do,” he said.

Straughn finished its season with an overall record of 9-8, and statistics were unavailable from the match.

Grimes said she admits that she didn’t know who her team was going to face in the title match.

“I don’t think anybody did,” she said. “That was unexpected, I guess. Both teams played well.”

Overall on the tournament itself, Grimes said she was pleased with how the girls played.

“I’m proud of the girls,” Grimes said. “I’m proud that we won, and now we’re going to be focusing on the regional tournament.”