Bob Jones wins at Sparkman; area race still undecided
Alana Cox (14 in white) goes to the net against Sparkman. (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)
HARVEST- Bob Jones won a tough five game match over Sparkman on Tuesday to wrap up the Patriots area games. Sparkman still has to play James Clemens in a match that will impact the final standings in Class 7A, Area 8 and the right to host the area tournament on Oct 19.
Bob Jones won the first game 25-12, dropped the second 22-25, won the third 25-20, dropped the fourth 25-15 and won the fifth and final game 15-12.
Coming off a loss to Hazel Green turned this match into a must win for Bob Jones. James Clemens could still finish in a tie for first and Sparkman could also depending on who wins their match next Thursday.
“When we lose we immediately focus on the next game and get better,” said Bob Jones Head Volleyball Coach April Marsh. “We played well today. Our serving was very good today. Very consistent and it allowed our hitters to be better.”
Sophomore Alana Cox has emerged as a star for Marsh this season. She consistently scored at the net against the smaller Sparkman team. She scored the winning point on a kill in the fifth game.
A bit of an unknown coming into the season, Cox now has a large net presence and scored with blocks and kills. At 6-foot, Cox teams with fellow six-footers Olivia Willoughby and Isabell Barnes for an intimidating front row.
Marsh does a lot of substituting to get her best defensive players on the court. Against Sparkman Cox got a lot of playing time along the net.
“She is a very good blocker, very strong and powerful. She has come on strong this year and she has a presence on the floor that teams playing us know who she is,” Marsh said.
“Isabelle has been great. She has stepped up and taken on a new role as a leader. She leads by example and everybody looks up to her,” Marsh added.
Barnes was the only returning player with any substantial varsity experience.
Bob Jones finished first, James Clemens second, Hazel Green third and Sparkman fourth in the area.
