GULF SHORES, Alabama – The Spanish Fort Lady Toros clinched the Class 5A Area 2 regular season title with a sweep over rival Gulf Shores on Tuesday in “The Tank” at Gulf Shores High School.

By virtue of winning the regular season title Spanish Fort (24-9, 4-0) will host the area tournament Oct. 18-19.

“Coming into Gulf Shores tonight with the area title on the line, I think we were very composed and played together as a team,” Spanish Fort head coach Barclay Kercher said. “We executed tonight.”

Spanish Fort won 25-19, 25-14, 25-22 and had to play from behind in the third game to clinch the victory. Gulf Shores raced to an 11-0 lead on serves from Lauren Tait and led 13-1 before the Toros could get going. Spanish Fort eventually tied the game at 21 and finished the game on a 6-1 run.

“Serve-receive is a crucial part of the game if you can’t make that first pass,” Kercher said. “Gulf Shores came out in the third game and had a very aggressive serving game. That’s a credit to the Dolphins. But the Toros stayed composed and we are very proud of them with the way that they pulled through and got the victory.”

For Spanish Fort Amber Treace had 24 assists, seven digs, three aces and two blocks; Ari Kaminski had six kills, four digs and a block; Shannon Paaymans had 17 digs, three aces and three kills and Mia Barraza had eight digs, four kills, two assists and two aces in the win.

For Gulf Shores (14-15) Erin McKee had seven kills, Jessica Chavez had six kills and freshman Taylor Hurst had five kills.

Spanish Fort will visit Robertsdale on Wednesday. Both Gulf Shores and Spanish Fort will play in the Battle of Old Shell Road tournament in Mobile this weekend.

PHOTO GALLERY: Find photos from the varsity and junior varsity matches between Gulf Shores and Spanish Fort on Tuesday here.