By Justin Fedich | The Associated Press

Sarah Combs didn’t plan on playing volleyball before the season began. Now, she’s an All-Star.

Morgan Academy’s Combs and volleyball head coach Caroline Averitt were named to the Alabama Independent School Association All-Star team. They will participate in the AISA All-Star Volleyball Tournament Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex in Montgomery.

Averitt said Combs was not expecting to get the call from Averitt that she had made the All-Star team.

“’I just want to congratulate you on making the AISA All-Stars,’” Averitt said to Combs. “And she just sat there. She was shocked.”

Averitt describes Combs as a humble player who leads by example. Around midseason, Averitt said Combs realized that she was a dominant hitter.

Combs didn’t even plan on trying out for the team before Averitt talked her into it.

“I told her that was not an option, and she really worked hard all year,” Averitt said. “She was a very, very important part of our team.”

Combs wasn’t the only one shocked to learn she had made the All-Star team. Averitt said she was also surprised to learn she was named as an All-Star coach.

“I was very surprised when they called and asked me to do it,” Averitt said. “Very honored.”

Averitt will be one of two coaches for the West team, made up of 12 players including Combs. The other coach from the West All-Stars is Sumter Academy’s Sadie Beam.

The All-Star Tournament practice starts at 9 a.m. Saturday. Averitt said she is looking forward to coaching alongside some of the best coaches and players in the AISA. She hopes she will be able to take her experience at the All-Star game back to her players next season.

“Any time I get the opportunity to get more players to learn to experience more, it just adds to my experience and gives me more to bring back to my team,” Averitt said.

But Averitt isn’t just looking to have a fun time. She said she’s extremely competitive, even when it comes to a game as trivial as tic-tac-toe.

Averitt is honored to make the trip to Montgomery, but she plans on coaching to win.

“I want to win at everything,” Averitt said.

“I’m very competitive, and having Sarah out there gives me a lot of confidence.”

Although Combs and Averitt haven’t even been to practice yet, Averitt already has a strong prediction about how her West All-Stars will fare against the East All-Stars.

“We should dominate,” Averitt said.