Marsh leads Bob Jones contingent to All-Star Sports Week
Bob Jones All-State volleyball players (l to r) Erin Shockey, Jeneva Salter, Coach April Marsh, Haley Hop
(Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)
MADISON- Bob Jones will be well represented at the 2014 AHSAA All-Star Sports Week in Montgomery next week. Volleyball coach April Marsh will be coaching the North All-Stars and three Bob Jones players have been selected All-State and will be playing in the game. The game will culminate a full day of activities starting with a Rules Clinic, Coaches Luncheon, and Workshops with college coaches.
The game will be at 4 p.m. on July 24 at Faulkner University’s Tine Davis Gymnasium.
“We’ve got a lot of talent on the North team and I’m looking forward to getting to coach that group of kids,” Marsh said. “We’ve got a strong senior group here at Bob Jones and it is good to see them getting recognized. It is an honor to be selected. Winning a state title had a lot to do with me being selected. That is a direct reflection of the talented kids I coach everyday.”
Jeneva Salter and Erin Shockey, both now seniors were integral parts of Bob Jones’ state championship title run last year and were named All-State back in April. Haley Hop, who played at James Clemens last year is the third Bob Jones player named All-State.
Marsh says that each player brings different strengths to the team.
“Jeneva is a strong outside hitter, Erin is a setter who does a lot for us, and Haley is strong defensively and offensively is a great hitter so she can be used a lot of different ways. She serves well; she is just a great all-around player.”
Last season as outside hitter, the 6-foot-1 Salter was part of two devastating lines that rotated in and out staying fresh. She provided winning kills in North Regional wins against James Clemens and Hoover. She led the team in kills against Huntsville and McGill Toolen as Bob Jones dominated opponents in the state championship matches.
Erin Shockey emerged as a team leader last year playing entire matches from her setter position along the net and rarely coming off the floor. She led the team in assists and was among team leaders in digs.
“Erin is a really great player,” Marsh said. “She does a lot on her own; goes out and gets private lessons and training to get where she is and it is paying off. She had a great year last year and this year I’m expecting even more out of her. She has a lot to bring to the table.”
Last year Alexis Howell was Bob Jones’ floor leader, she signed with UAB. This year Marsh will look to Salter to provide that edge in critical times of games.
“Jeneva will be one of the strongest hitters in the state,” Marsh said. “She brings lots of power and ball control so she is right there among the best of the best.”
Haley Hop was named All-State while still at James Clemens but she has now transferred back to Bob Jones after the family moved into the Bob Jones school district. She played for Bob Jones as a freshman.
“I’m really excited, I feel really lucky and blessed to be given the opportunity to be on All-State and I can’t take all the credit for getting there,” Hop said. She mentioned her coach at James Clemens Amanda Smith and her teammates.
“Volleyball is a team game and it takes six players working together to be successful. It’s great that three of us from Bob Jones will be playing together and with Coach Marsh it’s really going to help us grow closer. I already feel so close with this team being here for a short amount of time,” Hop said.
“Usually the North wins but last year the South won for the first time in a long time so hopefully we will help the North regain that title.”
Hop certainly had plenty of success at James Clemens as the Jets won back-to-back Class 6A, Area 16 Championships. But they never won at the North Regional falling to Vestavia Hills in 2013 and Bob Jones in 2014.
Hop was the Jets team leader in kills both seasons.
Last year the South team won a close match 3 games to 1.
