Bob Jones, Sparkman advance to North Super Regional

Lakyn Shepherd and Emma Jarrett go for the block against James Clemens in action from area tournament (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)

MADISON- Bob Jones rolled through the Class 7A Area 8 tournament Monday without losing a game. The Patriots defeated James Clemens three straight games to end the Jets season. The scores were 25-19, 25-23, and 25-23. Sparkman then ended Buckhorn’s season and advanced also. Bob Jones then defeated Sparkman 25-21, 25-20, and 25-16 to claim a #1 seed.

Bob Jones will open against Oak Mountain on Thursday at 3:30 at the VBC North Hall then play the winner of the Huntsville-Vestavia Hills match on Friday. Hoover and Mountain Brook are on the other side of the bracket.

Bob Jones used their size on the front line keeping points short. They also scored points from effective serves.

Savannah Brown, Lakyn Shepard, and Emma Jarrett give Bob Jones size at the net. All are about 6 feet tall. Jarrett was especially effective Monday. She scored 15 kills, 4 aces, and 2 blocks.

Alana Cox led Bob Jones with 27 kills. Shepard had 11 kills and 2 aces. Aija Abele is the setter and also one of the team’s best servers. She is a two year starter. She had 56 assists, 5 aces, 4 kills, and 12 digs.

Abele, Jarrett, Shepard, and Cox made the All-Tournament team.

Juanita Monerio-Pai, a freshman, has surged this season and now starts in the back court. She had 16 digs and 3 aces. With Bob Jones trailing 23-21 in the third game against James Clemens, Monerio-Pai served as Bob Jones scored five straight points to win. Jarrett had a big kill in that sequence.

“The character of this team is they don’t give up, they have a lot of resiliency and fight in them,” said Bob Jones Volleyball Coach April Marsh. “James Clemens played well today, it was a battle. We have good size and the block is huge and having hitters that can reach up over opponents is an advantage.”

Three years ago Bob Jones broke Huntsville’s streak of state championships. Two years ago Mountain Brook had tall players that helped them to knock off then reigning state champion Bob Jones.

“Mountain Brook is not as tall as they were then but they have good hitters. I have seen Oak Mountain and they have good size,” Marsh said.

Mountain Brook is the two-time reigning state champion. The state tournament is Oct 26-27 at the Birmingham Crossplex.