Lady Patriots to open volleyball state tourney against McGill-Toolen

MADISON – “To win a state championship we know we always have to beat McGill-Toolen,” said Jenny Jarrett, head coach of the Bob Jones volleyball team as her Lady Patriots have been paired to face the No. 1 ranked Yellow Jackets of Mobile’s McGill-Toolen in round one of the AHSAA Class 7A Volleyball State Tournament set for this morning at Birmingham’s SportsPlex.

The long awaited rematch of the two squads in the State Tournament will be held on court three of the SportsPlex beginning at 9 a.m. The winner will face the winner of the Austin-St. Paul’s Episcopal at 3 p.m. Wednesday. The Class 7A State Championship match is scheduled for Thursday, at 10 a.m.

The top-ranked Yellow Jackets advanced to the state matchup with Bob Jones after cruising through the South Super Regional as they defeated Fairhope, Enterprise and Bayside Academy with a combined scores of 12-2. For Bob Jones, the No. 2 ranked squad in Class 7A, the Patriots defeated Auburn 3-0 before falling to Hewitt-Trussville 3-0 in the semi-finals and then to Thompson 3-0 in the North Super Regional third place match.

Jarrett knows her squad currently with a 39-17 record has come up short in its last two matches, but understands her roster has a bevy of great talent, and if they come together, can beat any opponent it faces, including McGill-Toolen, threetime defending state champion who defeated the Lady Patriots the last two seasons in the State Championship match.

“Our girls have gone into a strong mindset and understand they must take care of our side of the court before of even thinking of winning,” said Jarrett, in her fourth season as head coach. “McGill-Toolen has a good record as we faced them earlier this season in the Blalock Tournament. I feel we can matchup with them, but also know we can’t make mistakes against their quality program. We haven’t beaten them since 2023.”

Bob Jones is virtually injury free going into the State Tournament, a place where the Lady Patriots won state titles in both 2008 and 2013. Jarrett said senior Mya Lacey has been the most consistent player for her squad all season long and done everything she’s been asked to do. Fellow senior Kendall Buckley is the team leader in kills as the 6-foot tall player has supplied a big part of the squad’s offense. Jarrett added, “We have several players step up in their roles on our team and have played outstanding all season long.”