Monday’s match means losers season is over

James Clemens volleyball coach Amanda Smith talks to her team during a recent match (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)

MADISON- Monday afternoon someone’s season will come to an abrupt end.

Bob Jones will host the Class 7A Area 8 volleyball tournament and the first game up starting at 2:30 is Bob Jones against James Clemens. Sparkman against Buckhorn will follow. The winners will play after the first two games are completed for seeding and both will advance to the regional at the VBC on Thursday.

Both teams are ranked. Bob Jones is #3 and James Clemens is #9. But that matters little now as the teams fight to keep their seasons alive.

James Clemens Coach Amanda Smith did not expect to be here. Her team defeated Bob Jones in their area match but then turned around and lost to Sparkman. Bob Jones swept Buckhorn and won the right to host.

“My team didn’t do what they needed to do in the other area games so we put ourselves in a tough situation,” Smith said.

James Clemens is led by setter Katie Sharp who averages 16 assists per match. She also is one of the team leaders in aces, digs, and kills. Sharp is a junior who has started since her freshman year. Two seniors, Alyssa Clopin and Angel Vinson, also start. The Jets lost Laura Grace Jones to an ankle injury. Smith plays six sophomores.

“If my starters play well then we rotate nine players in, if not we will go 12 deep,” Smith said.

Bob Jones is led by 6-foot-1 junior Alana Cox who is the middle hitter.