Bob Jones Volleyball Advancves Back To State Tournament
HUNTSVILLE- The Bob Jones Patriots return to the AHSAA State Volleyball Tournament this week after claiming the title of the North Super Regional Tournament held at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville. The Patriots defeated No. 10 ranked Sparkman, No. 5 Hoover and No. 2 Mt. Brook to win the coveted title and advance to this week’s State Tournament at the Cross Plex in Birmingham.
“The North Regional is always super competitive as many of the teams could certainly play for a state title if they just made it out of the Regional Tournament,” said April Marsh head coach of Bob Jones. “We had some superior play from sisters Elli (sophomore) and Emma (senior) Jarret, Kiara Hill (senior) and Juanita Monteiro-Pai (junior).”
In round one of the regional, Bob Jones defeated longtime arch-rival Sparkman 25-14, 24-26, 25-15, 25-20. In round two, the Pats edged Hoover 20-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-23. In the finals against the Spartans of Mt. Brook, Bob Jones fell behind early losing the first game 15-25. With a high level of determination and making sensational plays, the Lady Pats came back winning the next three games for the title with scores of 25-17, 25-17, and 25-18.
“Our girls have a great chemistry even away from the volleyball court and are very close,” said Marsh. “This chemistry carries over to their play as they seem to play at a high level for each other.”
Bob Jones is making the return to the State Tournament where last year the Patriots lost in the state championship match to McGill-Toolen in three straight games. This season, the defending champion Yellow Jackets ended the regular season ranked No. 1 in Alabama and won the South Super Regional and are the favorites going into the eight-team Class 7A State Tournament.
The Patriots will face No. 11 Baker of Mobile in the first round of the state action on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. A win against Baker will advance the Patriots to a second-round at 5:30 p.m. on Halloween against the winner of the Auburn-Hoover matchup. The state finals are scheduled for 9:45 a.m. on Thursday.
“We always have one of our goals to make it to the state tournament for a run at a championship and these girls have put themselves in a great position to do so,” said Marsh.
Bob Jones last won a state volleyball championship in 2013 with an earlier title in 2008.
