EAN Names PCA Volleyball’s Kaylon Cantrell As Autauga County Volleyball Coach Of The

By: Scott Nickerson

Elmore Autauaga News

The 2024-2025 school year saw a lot of successful athletic teams in Autauga County that advanced deep into their respective playoffs. But only one team in the county advanced to a state championship game and won it. That was the Prattville Christian Academy volleyball team. The Panthers won the Class 4A state championship in October 2024, clinching their second state championship in three years (the Panthers won Class 3A in 2022). As a result of the successful season, the Elmore Autauga News has named Prattville Christian Academy Volleyball Coach Kaylon Cantrell as Autauga County Volleyball Coach of the Year. 

“Winning another state championship was an incredible experience,” said Cantrell. “It’s something we worked for all season long, and to see it all come together in the end – it’s a moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life! Our theme for the season was MAKE IT MATTER, and our girls truly made it matter when it mattered most.”

While the state championship win over Alexandria clinched the 4A title, it was the semifinal victory over Madison County which might be the highlight of the season. After dropping the first two sets, the Panthers pulled a “reverse sweep,” winning each of the last three sets to advance to the 4A state championship game.

The 2024 Class 4A state champs won 45 games, which set a record for most wins in PCA history. Cantrell has won 356 games since becoming Head Coach in 2011 but 204 wins have come in the last six years.

The Panthers’ volleyball has experienced extended success recently under Cantrell:

2019 – Elite 8

2020 – Final 4

2022 – Class 3A State Champs

2023 – Elite 8

2024 – Class 4A State Champs

Under Coach Cantrell, the Panthers are also sending players to compete at the next level:

Class of 2021: Victoria Wheeler – Faulkner University

Class of 2022: Naomi Taake – Brewton Parker

Class of 2023: Hannah Jones – Memphis University then transferred to Ohio State University

Class of 2024: Bayleigh Seale – Chattanooga State

Class of 2025: Natalee Wheeler – Auburn University Montgomery

Cantrell has previously been recognized as Coach of the Year by other publications. In 2022, she was named Coach of the Year by the Central Alabama Scoreboard’s Volleyball Super 22. In 2024, she was named Class 4A Coach of the Year by al.com.