Bob Jones wins in straight sets over James Clemens
Lakyn Shepard goes to the net for Bob Jones with Brittan Smith (2) for James Clemens (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)
MADISON- Bob Jones has taken the lead in the Class 7A, Area 8 volleyball race. They won three close games on Thursday at home 25-20, 25-23, and 25-22 over James Clemens. The teams will not play again in the regular season but could meet again in the area tournament and North Regionals.
Bob Jones distributed the scoring and led throughout the first game. Alana Cox had the kill of the game and Isabelle Barnes scored with both kills and blocks. James Clemens was led by Sydney Edmonds with 3 blocks and 4 kills.
In game 2 James Clemens led early but Bob Jones tied it at 8. Olivia Willouby for Bob Jones had a put back to tie it at 19. Barnes slammed a winner to put Bob Jones in command of a tight game. In game 3 James Clemens had their best chance to get a game. The Jets had leads of 12-5 and 15-6. Katie Sharp and Edmonds led the scoring as the Jets grabbed the momentum. But the much taller Bob Jones team soon asserted their height advantage at the net and went on a five point run to turn the game around. Tied at 19, Barnes got back-to-back blocks to extend the lead and take the win.
“These girls are resilient, we have been down several times this year,” Bob Jones Coach April Marsh said. “They will fight to the end and not quit. That is what makes them so special.
We are taller than they are and it works to our advantage in the blocks. Our front row did a great job of fronting their hitters and blocking and taking away their hitting lanes. Lakyn is doing a good job on the right side. The whole team is getting better.”
Alana Cox led Bob Jones with 14 kills and 4 blocks. Isabelle Barnes added 10 kills and 6 blocks. Kara Harbin had 17 assists.
Laykn Shepard join Willouby, Barnes and Cox as a formidable front, all over 6-feet tall. James Clemens tallest player was Edmonds at 5-foot-8. She had 10 kills.
One of James Clemens’ leaders this year is setter Katie Sharp who rarely leaves the court.
“We did not play well, size has nothing to do with it, my kids can jump just as tall as a six footer,” James Clemens Coach Amanda Smith said.
Smith starts two freshmen and two sophomores. Edmonds is the only senior starter.
“We are young and the noise and the pressure got to my team. We’ve just got to regroup. This is a tournament sport and we want to be playing our best in October. We are getting better every day,” Smith said.
