MADISON- Still ranked No. 1 in the state, the Bob Jones volleyball team is back at full strength and that is bad news for opponents. Thursday it was James Clemens turn to test the defending state champions.

The Jets played tough but fell 3-0, the scores were 25-17, 25-17, and 25-15.

Earlier in the week Buckhorn fell 3-0. Bob Jones is now 4-0 in Class 7A, Area 8. They can clinch #1 in the area with a win over Sparkman next Tuesday.

The strong start is a testament to the depth built on the team by head coach April Marsh. Injuries sidelined Jeneva Salter and Isabella Barnes but both are now back.

Salter said she is not 100% yet but is getting close after knee surgery over the summer. Barnes is back after a sprained ankle.

Against Buckhorn, Salter had 9 kills and Barnes had 5. Team leader Haley Hop led with 11 kills, 10 digs, and 3 aces.

Against James Clemens, Salter had 7 kills. Hop had 16 kills and 9 digs.

“Jeneva brings a lot of power, she is a very strong hitter and having her back in the lineup means a solid right side a big blocker and she hits well from the right side,” said Marsh.

“Having Jeneva and Isabelle back means we have two players on the right side and in the middle about six foot tall so we have a lot of size and the blocks will be big and it will be much tougher for the hitters on the opposing team to hit around the blocks.”

Marsh said the passes to set up the hits are equally important. Those sets are usually handled by Erin Shockey, an All-State performer and one of the best setters in the state.

Against James Clemens Shockey had 27 assists and she had 35 against Buckhorn.

“All our players are equally important and we have to play well all the way around,” Marsh said.

Bob Jones is now 17-3 with the three losses coming to out-of-state teams. They have not lost a game in area play. They did lose games to Huntsville and Grissom early in the season but won both matches.

“We played well tonight and we were aggressive swinging on the ball. We came into a tough environment, they had a good student section and they are a good scrappy team,” Marsh said after the James Clemens win.

The high point for James Clemens was a slam by Marigrace Holt to give the Jets a lead at 15-14 in the third game. The lead was short lived as Jeneva Salter stopped the run with a slam of her own.

Marigrace Holt

Bob Jones substituted liberally while James Clemens only made a few lineup changes.

“Marigrace is a good player,” Marsh said. “She is good on serve and on defense. She swings very aggressively.”

Holt led James Clemens with 7 kills. Katie Sharp had 11 assists.