Camp Intensity for Bob Jones volleyball

MADISON-  It is Camp Intensity week at Bob Jones as the volleyball team holds a two day camp with Haven O’Quinn, Head Volleyball Coach Birmingham Southern College.

This is the first time Bob Jones coach April Marsh has been able to get O’Quinn for a preseason camp to work with the Bob Jones team. O’Quinn was coach at Mountain Brook where her team won a state championship three years ago beating Bob Jones in the process.

“We’ve competed against Haven’s teams at Mountain Brook and her teams always had good ball control and that is what we are focusing on here,” Marsh said. “I’ve known her for a long time and we wanted to get her here for a camp and she is doing a really great job.”

Monday, O’Quinn put the varsity through demanding and fast-paced drills working on setting, digs, volley, and outside hitting. The players picked up the intensity level as the practice went on. Leaders on the team like Kiara Hill, Juanita Moneiro-Pai, and Emma Jarrett stepped up and the younger girls follow suit.

“They come in and get a lot of reps and it gives me a chance to observe,” Marsh said. “The kids have responded well to Haven. We have good kids who are willing to put in the work.”

Last year’s Bob Jones team was led by Alana Cox, Myra Wallace, Karmahn Hall, and Aija Abel, all now graduated.

Marsh must replace setter, libero, and two hitters.

Anna Mitchell was slated to move to setter but is out recovering from surgery. Freshman Adeline Barnes is playing varsity and making a push as setter as is Leanna Tralongo, a senior transfer.

Marsh returns a trio of highly skilled players who played key roles last year. Rising seniors Kiara Hill and Emma Jarrett played on the All-State team last week. Moneiro-Pai is a rising junior.

In Montgomery, Hill led the north team with nine kills. Jarrett is a strong all-around player who will be counted on as a front-line hitter.

“Kiara is athletic. She can jump and touch the rim and you can’t teach that. Her skills will continue to improve. Emma’s skills are really high. She is committed to play at UAH,” Marsh said.

In the volleyball all-star game it was high drama as the North team opened with a 25-19 set win and South fought back to take set two 25-22. Jarrett and Hill started sets one and three as the South rode McGill-Toolen star Kenya McQuirter to a 25-22 win in set three.

School starts August 7 and volleyball season starts quickly after that.

In coaching news Jenny Jarrett is moving from coach at Discovery volleyball to Bob Jones JV.