The Clanton Advertiser

Jemison will host the Chilton County Volleyball Tournament this week with hopes of loosening a rival’s hold on the plaque that goes home with the winners each year.

Isabella has won the tournament each of the past two seasons. Either Isabella or Jemison has won the event since its inception.

“It’s a bragging rights thing. They get up for it,” JHS coach Leighsa Robinson said about her players. “They’re friends on and off the floor with all the other girls.”

The junior varsity tournament was played Thursday. The varsity tournament will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with a match between Chilton County and Maplesville, the Nos. 4 and 5 seeds, respectively.

Jemison (No. 2 seed) and Thorsby (3) are scheduled to play at 10:30 a.m., and then top-seeded Isabella will play the winner of the first match at noon.

The championship match is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Jemison’s Alton Cobb Gymnasium.

Admission will be $5, and concessions will be served.

Isabella is off to a 15-5 start to the season and is ranked No. 9 in Class 2A.

Jemison perhaps has the best chance to knock off the Mustangs. JHS is 7-10 on the year, but a challenging schedule has allowed the Panthers to improve over the course of the season.

“It’s nothing for us to play 6-7-8 matches a week,” Robinson said. “There are times when I feel like, in order for us to be successful, we’re going to have to be consistent. When we play to our capabilities, we’re a good team. When we don’t, we struggle.”