Marigrace Holt and Maggie Harr go for a block in James Clemens vs Hazel green action (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)

MADISON- Bob Jones, the state’s top ranked volleyball team, got off to a strong start Monday afternoon as the playoffs began with the Class 7A, Area 8 tournament. Bob Jones quickly dispatched Sparkman 25-16, 25-19, and 25-20.

Haley Hop led the team with 14 kills and Erin Shockey had 26 assists. Hop and Isabella Barnes were impressive at the net scoring five blocks each.

The Patriots fully expect to win back-to-back state championships but Coach April Marsh knows there is a lot of work ahead.

“We are playing as well as we have played all season and they know what is at stake and they play every point hard,” Marsh said. “We have a lot of seniors on this team and they have that maturity-wise they have been there and they have the right mentality going into every game.”

With all players healthy, Bob Jones starting lineup consists of six seniors, three of them are All-State, Jeneva Salter, Haley Hop, and Erin Shockey.

James Clemens faced Hazel Green with their season on the line. The Jets took game one 25-23 as Kailey Beckett scored key points at the net. Maggie Harr had three blocks to lead the way. Hazel Green struck back in game two 25-19 as Bre Jones began to score from the net.

James Clemens dropped the next two games 25-19 and 25-15 and their season ended in disappointment. It was the end for seniors Marigrace Holt, Katelyn Jenkins, and Maggie Harr.

In the final match played for seeding at the North Regional, Bob Jones swept Hazel Green 25-15, 25-16, and 25-22.

Bob Jones will play Thompson at 11:15 A.M. Thursday at the Von Braun Center South Hall in the North Regional. The winner advances and the loser’s season ends.

This year all the 7A games will be played on Thursday with the final scheduled for 2 p.m.

“We’re fine with playing all our games on Thursday,” Marsh said of the new schedule at the North regional. “We’re use to playing games all day at tournaments. Our kids are going to be ready. Going into regionals, every team is going to be good. It is going to be very competitive over there.”