Dominating start for Bob Jones volleyball
Bob Jones returns experience (L to R) Jeneva Salter, Alexis Howell , Emily Hatcher, and Isabelle Barnes
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)
MADISON- Bob Jones volleyball coach April Marsh has her team off to one of their best starts in her 4 seasons on the bench.
An 11-3 start in matches looks good but who the victories have come against has garnered attention across the state. A 2-1 win over four time defending state champion Huntsville on August 29 was followed up with a 2-0 win over Grissom a week later.
Bob Jones moved up to #3 in the state on the strength of those early season wins.
“We’ve come out and played really well with the goal of playing our best come October. We’re trying to improve and build on it,” Marsh said.
“Last year we had a lot of sophomores and they have grown physically and skill-wise. We took some beatings last year in area games but our goal was October and we won the area tournament and went to state,” said Marsh.
One of the strengths of the team is a deep group of strikers that Marsh rotates through out the game. Emily Hatcher, Isabelle Barnes, Jeneva Salter, and Alexis Howell play along the net and get most of the kills and spikes.
“I’m excited about the year because I think it is going to be really good,” Hatcher said. “Winning against Huntsville really got it going good. That’s normally our game that we figure out how good we are so winning that game gave us confidence but we still need to work more,” said the junior whose specialty is blocks.
Erin Shockey returns as the teams leading setter.
Senior Alexis Howell is easy to underestimate standing at 5-foot-4. But don’t be fooled. She elevates for slams even while playing the second row. Howell was voted to the All-State Volleyball team last season as an athlete because she plays multiple positions. She was selected to play for the North All-Star squad during All-Star Sports Week in Montgomery last June.
“These preseason games are good so we can work on getting better but I’m excited for region games to begin,” Howell said. “The rivalry fuels us to play better and they are fun to play in and watch.
This is my second year playing with the Shockey sisters and I really love them. They are a lot of fun. They work hard and have a lot of spirit so I enjoy playing alongside them.”
Bob Jones has some payback on their minds. Last season Sparkman won a match on the Patriots home court. So did Buckhorn who came out first in the regular season and hosted the Class 6A, Area 15 tournament.
Bob Jones won the Class 6A, Area 15 championship tournament with a 3-1 victory over Buckhorn. Erin Shockey had 36 assists, while Alexis Howell had 20 digs and Jeneva Salter had 20 kills. The Patriots advanced to the State Tournament but fell on the first day in the quarterfinals to McGill-Toolen.
Bob Jones opened their home season on Sept. 5 with a 3-0 sweep of Madison Academy. They host Huntsville on Sept. 10 at 4 p.m.
Their first area game is at unbeaten (9-0) and seventh-ranked Hazel Green on Sept. 12. They play at Sparkman on Sept. 19 and the first home Area 15 game is Sept. 24 against Buckhorn.
