Sydney Edmonds and Maggie Harr from James Clemens defend against Sparkman in varsity volleyball action while Tristen Lee, at far right, looks on. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

HARVEST – The James Clemens varsity volleyball team had to dig deep to win its first region game against Sparkman on Sept. 16 after dropping a close first game 25-23 in the best-of-five match.

The second game had the same score but different results, as the Jets were on the winning side of a 25-23 game. Sparkman won the third game 25-18, but James Clemens took the fourth game 25-22 and the fifth game 15-10 to nab a win at Sparkman’s floor.

“I loved that they did not give up,” head coach Amanda Smith said. “They fought through it. Sparkman is a great team. They don’t make a lot of errors. No. 2 (for Sparkman) is pretty awesome, and the fact that we could hang with them – look out.”

Seniors Kailey Beckett, Maggie Harr, Marigrace Holt and Katelyn Jenkins started out much of the games, while fellow senior Tristen Lee was often the first substitute, as was Mary Kate West.

The 3-2 win improves James Clemens to 9-9 overall and 1-0 in the region – a region containing No. 1 Bob Jones.

“I think it instilled a lot of confidence, and now they realized what I have been telling them is true, that they are capable if they will just fight,” Smith said.

The Jets face cross-town rival Bob Jones Thursday, Sept. 18 and will travel down to Panama City, Fla. for a weekend tournament Sept. 19-21.