By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Both local volleyball teams will compete in regional playoff tournaments on Saturday.

Thorsby will play in the Class 2A, Region B tournament, hosted at Clarke County High School by Leroy.

Thorsby plays Zion Chapel at 10 a.m.

Those first games determine whether the local teams advance to the sub-state round. Eight teams are grouped in each regional. The first-round winners advance; first-round losers are eliminated.

Additional tournament games are played to determine which teams host sub-state games.

Thorsby coach Ginger Williams said her team was disappointed in its area tournament performance on Monday—the Rebels fought back from a 2-0 hole to defeat Billingsley but then were swept in straight sets by Isabella—but has had a good week of practice.

“Right now we seem to be in good spirits,” Williams said. “You’re going to have times during the year where you’re not playing as well. How you bounce back from those ruts is what makes you better.”

Another squad that keeps improving is Jemison, who will play host Sumter-Central at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Class 4A, Region B tournament.

“I think that we’re taking something from every match that we play,” JHS coach Leighsa Robinson said. “It’s going to be important for us to do the little things right. Then the big things will come.

Robinson said her team must pass the ball effectively to have success.

“When we pass the ball, we’re as good as any team we play,” she said.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Jemison qualified for a regional playoff tournament berth with a second-place finish Tuesday in the Class 4A, Area 6 tournament.

The Panthers defeated Bibb County, 3-1, to advance the next playoff round but then lost to host Calera, 3-0 (25-14, 25-6, 25-11), in the championship match.

The top two teams in each area tournament advance to the regional round.

“Wehen we played Bibb County the first set tonight, we blew them off the floor,” JHS coach Leighsa Robinson said. “Then Bibb County started playing real scrappy defense and played us a good match.

“It’s like I told the team, there are a lot of people sitting at home that would love to be playing in the regional, and we’re sitting here disappointed because we didn’t win our area. That’s a good thing because it tells you the expectations of our team and our program is to win the area year after year after year.”

Chilton County failed to advance in its tournament Tuesday at Central-Tuscaloosa.

Thorsby is also still alive for the regionals, which will be played Saturday.

Thorsby will compete at Millry beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday against a field that includes Isabella Zion Chapel, Highland Home, Leroy, Ariton, Millry and Goshen.

Thorsby plays Zion Chapel at 10 a.m.

Jemison (12-19) will play its regional at the winner of the Area 7 tournament, which includes Sumter-Central, Holt, Southside-Selma and Dallas County. The result of that tournament was not available at press time.

“I’m proud that we’re going, but we’re going to have to step it up and play hard,” Robinson said.

Jemison defeated Chilton County, 2-1, on Monday, avenging a tournament loss to its rivals two days earlier on the same court.

The Panthers on Monday dropped the first set, 25-23, but rallied to win the next two sets, 25-13 and 15-12.

Jemison finished third in its pool during the Jemison Invitational Tournament on Saturday, and the Panthers lost, 2-0 (25-15, 25-20), to Thorsby in the consolation match.

Thorsby finished third in the other pool, after losing to Montevallo, 2-0 (25-13, 25-15), and Marbury (25-20, 30-28).

Sade’ Archie finished with 20 kills and three aces in three matches combined, Desiree Evans had seven kills and four aces, Jennifer Spivey had eight kills and eight aces, Emily Spain had 31 assists and four aces, and Jackie Holcomb had 22 digs.

Chilton County finished second in its pool, including a win over JHS, and lost to Montevallo in a semifinal match.

Kacy Sanders had 30 assists for CCHS.

Keondra Looney had eight kills against Jemison and eight digs against Montevallo, Brooke Lewis had eight digs against Jemison, and Kayla Ray had three aces against Jemison.

Montevallo then lost to tournament champion Central-Tuscaloosa, 2-1.

Central had beaten Marbury in the other semifinal.

For Jemison in the tournament, Lauren Price had three assists and two aces against Central-Tuscaloosa, Tiffany Guin had four digs against Thorsby, and Lauren Crosby had six digs and three kills against CCHS.

From Staff Reports

Jemison’s varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams defeated West Blocton on Thursday.

The varsity won, 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-11, 25-14), while the JV took a 2-1 (18-25, 25-13, 15-13) decision.

Haley Smitherman had eight digs for JHS, while teammate Lauren Price had 14 assists.

Denten Ellison chipped in seven kills, and Shelby Griffin had five kills and three blocks.

The Panthers got in 86 percent of their serves.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Isabella’s volleyball team swept rival Jemison on Tuesday, 3-0, though the visiting Panthers came closer to the IHS score with each set.

The hosts won 25-10 in the first set with Khadijah Craig staking the Mustangs to an early lead by serving to a 9-3 score.

Set 2 was closer, as an ace by Lauren Crosby made the score 24-21 Isabella though the Mustangs had led 24-16. IHS closed it out, 25-21.

The third set was tied as late as 21-all, but a Savannah Kissel ace ended the match, 25-22.

Isabella improved to 19-4 with the win, while Jemison fell to 7-9.

Kissel and Landy Griffith each had nine kills and two blocks for Isabella. Kissel also had a team-high six aces.

Craig contributed five kills and four aces.

Heather Posey (10 assists) and Amber Flanagan (7 assists) both were effective setters, while Allison Mims led the IHS defense with 12 digs.

Lauren Price served 100 percent on the match for Jemison and also had nine assists.

Morgan Lucas had four digs, while Shelby Griffin posted four kills, four blocks and three aces.

Jemison swept Bibb County, 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-15), on Monday and also competed in a tournament at Oak Grove over the weekend.

Against Bibb County, Haley Smitherman recorded 11 aces and five kills.

Shelby Griffin led the team with 15 kills, and Lauren Price had 28 assists and five aces.

Denten Ellison had three aces and five kills.

Price was the only Panther named to the all-tournament team at Oak Grove after she recorded four digs and 34 assists.

Tiffany Guin had 11 digs, and Smitherman had eight aces and eight kills.

Griffin had 19 kills.

Thorsby won at Jemison on Thursday, 3-1 (25-23, 25-17, 24-26, 25-21).

Emily Spain assisted on 30 points, half of those coming on Sade’ Archie’s 15 kills. Archie also had seven digs.

Desiree Evans posted seven kills and six aces, and Jennifer Spivey had eight kills, seven aces and seven digs.

Thorsby’s junior varsity team won, 2-1 (25-22, 21-25, 15-5).

Katelyn Beam aced Jemison 18 times.

Jemison hosts Bibb County beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

The Rebels, meanwhile, host Maplesville beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

There might not be a better way for the Jemison volleyball team to prepare for the upcoming season than by lining up against its fiercest rival.

The Panthers hosted Isabella and four other teams Monday for practice games.

A showdown with the Mustangs marked the beginning of the event. Jemison won the first set, 25-10, and were trailing in the second set, 15-11, when the match was called because it had reached its time limit.

“I’m pleased with what they’re doing,” JHS coach Leighsa Robinson said. “I’m really pleased with their effort.”

The Panthers also played in practice games in Sylacauga on July 23, going 2-2 in their matches.

In addition to Jemison and Isabella, Chilton County, Montevallo, Southside-Selma and West Blocton also participated in the event at Alton Cobb Gymnasium.

By Drew Granthum | Staff Writer

It’s never too early to start planning ahead. Just ask Jemison volleyball coach Leighsa Robinson.

Her squad won’t play a match until the fall, but they’re already working on the finer points of their game during their annual two-day camp.

The camp is being led by former University of Alabama and current Birmingham-Southern coach Judy Green, and held in Jemison’s own Alton Cobb gymnasium.

Robinson says the combination of having someone with Green’s renown teaching in the comfort of the Panther’s home court is hard to beat.

“Being here allows for the players to get individual attention,” she said. “The coaching expertise and the quality of the coaches is tremendous.”

Green said she felt that the players’ desire to learn is what made the difference.

“The most remarkable thing about Jemison is that I know the work ethic comes from a long tradition,” she said. “People at Jemison love the game of volleyball and want to be good at it.”

Green said the main thing being worked on during the camp’s four sessions were the skill areas of the game.

“We try to identify where they need to improve skill wise,” she said. “If you can’t pass and serve, the rest really doesn’t matter.”

Robinson felt she had several players ready to have a breakout year, and that the team was becoming more and more focused on winning.

“Our setter, Lauren Price, has big shoes to fill, but she’s been working on her conditioning in the off season,” she said. “Morgan Posey and Tanya Liveoak both played club ball in the off season and are working hard. It’s more than a game to [the team].”

Coach Robinson also said she felt confident about her squad, given the hard work being put in.

“We pride ourselves on hard work,” she said. “When you expect more, you get more. If you don’t mind working hard, and have dedication, you’ll accomplish great things.”

Jemison senior Kortney Robinson on Monday held a ceremony to announce her intention to play volleyball at Faulkner State Community College.

Robinson was joined by Lindsey Gerth, Kim Robinson, Danny Robinson, Kelsey Mims, Tracy Smith, Steve Johnson, Glenda Atchison, Vicki Land, Lindsay Sammons, JHS coach Leighsa Robinson and Faulkner State coach Ritchie Dulaney.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Jemison softball coach Leighsa Robinson may have found the perfect team-building exercise—even if it’s not the one she had in mind at first.

The JHS softball team planned a trip to watch the sixth-ranked University of Alabama softball team host Kentucky, but then Wednesday’s storms ravaged Tuscaloosa, forcing the cancellation of the game and also the Jemison team’s trip.

Instead, the Panthers decided to help tornado victims.

“It was going to be a team thing, and when they canceled it, I thought…,” Coach Leighsa Robinson said. “I want them to understand life isn’t always about them. It’s about helping people in need. If I can teach them that, then I’m doing my job.”

The team, along with some JHS volleyball players, will collect supplies needed by victims from 11-11:30 a.m. Sunday at the school softball field and then take the supplies to Tuscaloosa.

Robinson encouraged those who want to help to bring bottled water, diapers, baby wipes, baby food, baby formula, flashlights, batteries, trash bags, toiletries, napkins, plates, plastic utensils, cat food, dog food, cat litter, food that does not need to be heated such as crackers, charcoal, grills, new packs of undergarments (for men, women and children), flip flops, new packs of socks, candles and lighters.

“I wish that we had so much stuff that we have problems taking it over,” Robinson said. “Somehow, some way, we’ll get it over there.”

The Panthers have connections with the Tuscaloosa area.

UA volleyball coach Judy Green (who has volunteered for several years to help with a summer camp at JHS) is without power and water, Robinson said, and Tuscaloosa-Central volleyball coach Hanika Turner has been unable to contact all her players.

“She just said for everybody to keep them in their thoughts and prayers,” Robinson said.