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.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Thorsby’s volleyball team advanced to the regional round of the playoffs with a 3-2 comeback win over Billingsley on Monday.

The Rebels dropped the first two sets, 25-21 and 25-11, before fighting back to win the next three sets, 25-22, 25-21, 15-13.

THS had trouble with Billingsley’s service game and its free ball offense. The Bears often got the ball back over the net on the first of their three allowed hits—before the Thorsby defense had time to get in position.

The Rebels were down to their final six points, trailing 19-18 in the third set, but THS won seven of the next 10 points and never looked back.

The win set up a contest with Isabella, which Thorsby lost, 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-21), but a second-place finish was all that was required to advance to a sectional, which will be played Saturday at a yet-to-be-determined site.

Thorsby’s Sade’ Archie and Jennifer Spivey were named to the all-tournament team.

Archie recorded 25 kills, 10 digs, six aces and two blocks in the two matches combined.

Spivey had 10 digs and nine kills.

By Emily Beckett | Staff Writer

The atmosphere in Thorsby’s gym Monday was anything but dull as the Rebels managed to defeat Billingsley, 3-2 (25-8, 23-25, 25-17, 23-25, 15-6).

The win came on Senior Night, the last match the Thorsby players have scheduled at home.

The Rebels and the Bears went back and forth, with Thorsby easily capturing the first set, 25-8.

Billingsley fought back and took the second set, but the Rebels came back and won the third set.

The fourth set was a toss-up the entire way through, but the Bears took advantage of several Rebel errors toward the end and won, 25-23.

It all came down to the fifth and final set. Both teams showed signs of fatigue, but Thorsby rallied and clinched the win, 15-6.

Desiree Evans finished with 11 kills and eight aces, Sade’ Archie had 15 kills and six aces, Jennifer Spivey had seven kills, Emily Spain had 25 assists, Jackie Holcomb had eight aces and Kaitlyn Langston had six aces.

“I’m glad we won,” said THS head coach Ginger Williams. “We’ve got to be more aggressive. We’ve got to learn to go after the ball and make them make errors.”

Billingsley put up a good fight. Lori Davis finished with 11 digs, five aces and two kills; Dominique Watkins had 11 digs, two aces and one kill; Alexis Cook had six digs, one ace and one kill; Hillary Horton had six digs; Megan Langley had three digs and two aces and Shannon Massey had two digs, one ace and one kill.

Thorsby plays at West Blocton at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, while Billingsley visits Marbury on Oct. 6.

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

Thorsby defeated Maplesville on Tuesday, 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-9).

Jackie Holcomb had 14 aces, and Jennifer Spivey had seven aces.

Sade’ Archie led the Rebels (8-8) with nine kills, and Desiree Evans had five kills.

Emily Spain had 13 assists.

Thorsby won at Holtville on Monday, 3-1 (25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 25-19).

Archie and Evans set career highs with 23 kills and 12 kills, respectively.

Archie also had seven digs, and Evans also had four digs.

Holcomb contributed six aces, and Spivey had nine kills.

Spain recorded four kills and 38 assists.

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.

From Staff Reports

Thorsby’s varsity and junior varsity won matches against Holtville on Thursday.

The varsity won, 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-17) to improve its record to 6-8, while the JV’s win was its first of the season.

Sade’ Archie had 11 kills and six aces; and Desiree Evans had three kills, four digs and two aces.

Jennifer Spivey contributed four kills, four digs and three aces. Jackie Holcomb had six aces and two kills.

Kaitlyn Langston aced Holtville six times, while Emily Spain had 18 assists, three aces and three kills.

By James Dubuisson | Special to the Advertiser

The Thorsby Rebels were bad hosts Tuesday as they defeated visiting Chilton County in straight sets, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-23).

CCHS started the first set of the volleyball match on a 9-3 run. THS head coach Ginger Williams called a timeout to stop the Tigers’ momentum and to motivate her players.

The Rebels responded as they tied the score at 13-13 and continued on to win the set 25-21.

The Rebels led 16-8 in the second set after a five-point run. The Tigers rallied to within one point of THS but were never able to catch up as the Rebels won, 25-22.

THS carried the momentum from the second set into the third as they started with a 10-2 lead.

The Rebels were looking to put CCHS away with an 18-9 lead, but the Tigers came roaring back to tie THS 21-21 and even take a 23-22 lead. THS scored the last three points of the set, winning 25-23.

THS was led by its upperclassmen as seniors Sade’ Archie and Desiree Evans had 18 kills and seven kills, respectively, and junior Jennifer Spivey had seven kills.

Eighth grader Emily Spain led the team in assists with 31.

THS (6-6) will host Holtville High School on Thursday at 5 p.m.

CCHS (1-6) will look to rebound from the loss this Thursday as they play Paul Bryant High School in Clanton with a scheduled start time of 5 p.m.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Thorsby’s volleyball fortunes in 2011 will hinge on the productivity of a group of net players long on experience and skill.

The Rebels return five players at the hitter and blocker positions who were regular contributors on last year’s squad.

THS finished with a winning record and advanced to the regional tournament in 2010.

Defensive specialist Kendra Dawson and setter Holly Smith must be replaced after long, productive varsity careers. Both were good enough to have the opportunity to make their way onto college teams, Dawson with Judson College and Smith with the University of Mobile.

Three players have practiced at Smith’s vacated position, though sophomore Keela Lucas might earn the most playing time there in her first year in the program.

Thorsby coach Ginger Williams said setter is the most difficult position for a first-year player.

Eighth grader Emily Spain and senior Desiree Evans are also working at setter.

“Desiree just has volleyball experience,” Williams said. “She has good hands so she is able to make some of the most difficult plays look a little easier.”

But Evans will spend most of her time as an outside hitter, where she will join Spain, junior Jackie Holcombe and junior Kaitlyn Langston.

Middle blockers Sade Archie, a senior, and Jennifer Spivey, a sophomore, also bring experience to the net.

Another senior is Taylor Gibson.

“Overall, we’ve got more experience than we did last year,” Williams said.

But the back row will feature several newcomers, including senior Whitley Hines, who like Lucas is playing her first year of varsity volleyball.

“They’re working hard, and they’re improving every practice,” Williams said. “That’s what you want; that’s what you look for out of new players.

“I told the girls, ‘We just want to be playing the best ball we can at the end of the season.’”

2011 schedule

8/18 at Sylacauga

8/20 Super Saturday at Thorsby

8/22 at Montevallo

8/23 West Blocton

8/25 at Isabella

8/27 at Calera Invitational

8/29 at Calera

8/30 Chilton Co.

9/1 Holtville

9/8 at Jemison

9/13 Maplesville

9/15 at Holtville

9/17 at Jemison Invitational

9/20 at Horseshoe Bend

9/22 Fayetteville

9/26 Billingsley

9/27 at West Blocton

10/1 Chilton County Tournament