Jacksonville, AL – Jacksonville’s first-year coach has the right motivation to aid Golden Eagles fight off White Plains to win the 4A Area 10 volleyball final
Class 4A, Area 10 tournament
At Jacksonville
Jacksonville def. Anniston (forfeit)
White Plains def. Cleburne County 25-8, 25-14 25, 18.
Championship
Jacksonville def. White Plains 25-23, 25-21 17-25, 18-25 15-8
All-tournament team:
MVP: Mya Swain, Jacksonville.
Cleburne County: Brooklyn Hulsey.
White Plains: Cooper Martin, Bella Higgins.
Jacksonville: Camryn Stone, Sydney Soriano.
By Joe Medley
The fear of snakes was instrumental in helping Jacksonville to gain an advantage in Wednesday’s fifth game of the Class 4A area 10 final volleyball match.
Not the slithering kind that could have gone to Van Deerman Gymnasium had one had the pleasure of a relaxing day at Riley Green Court.
These “snakes” include the stairways of a gymnasium, as well as the first year Jacksonville head coach Amber Russell has found them to be an effective way of motivating her team. After huddled with her team, White Plains beat in the fourth and third sets in order to make a fifth set and final set, she uttered the word that will make you smile.
“We certainly had a great talk with,” sophomore hitter and tournament’s top participant Mya Swain said. “She was basically like her snake was threatening us.”
The rest was just a story, in which Russell’s Golden Eagles finished off a 25-23, 25-21 25-21 17-25. 18-25. 15-8. win to claim their 24th region championship and their first under Russell.
“It’s a huge joy,” said Russell, who was a coach under legendary David Clark, who retired from coaching following the season of 2022.
“But you know, he’s prepared myself for the task for a long time,” Russell said. “I’ve been looking at him and seeing the way he behaved and trying to avoid getting overly … I think he’s more calm that I. I tend to be a bit high, and this year, I’ve had to find a way to bring back.”
Other than certain times like the one Jacksonville had to face the highly driven White Plains.
Affected by a string of injuries to their points during their debut season under the two-time state director of football Jamie McClendenin, White Plains didn’t have a win in their previous two matches against Jacksonville this season.
The Wildcats included two Jacksonville transferees and outside hitter Carli Fritts, and middle blocker Sara Kate Adams, scored 10 points without a reply to lead 17-8 during the 3rd set. They won that set, and then won the following.
“Beating them in just two sets is huge our team,” Outside hitter and all-tournament selection Cooper Martin said. “We don’t ever beat Jacksonville. … This truly is a testament to how much we’ve grown over the last few years.”
Martin was absent for a portion of the season due to an injured clavicle that fractured during the softball season. The middle blocker Isabella Higgins, who played in the Down Under Games in Australia during the summer, was unable to play for a period of time because of an ankle injury.
“She was gone for about 2 months,”” Clendenin said. Clendenin, who guided Donoho to a pair of state titles as well as a runner-up finishing in three years. “I know we had her but she was with us only for a couple of weeks and then she went to the doctor and he said, you know that you have to be off for two more weeks.
“We were able to use her for a few regional matches, but not completely. It wasn’t 100%.”
The Wildcats did not have their entire roster on Wednesday but they were able to defeat Cleburne County 25-8 and 25-14 in the opening round, and take Jacksonville to their limits.
They were able to earn an entry into the next round of the North Regional, along with Jacksonville.
“I’m very proud of my girls, absolutely,” Clendenin said. “They’ve been working hard all season.”
It’s difficult to overcome snakes as a motivational tool However, the idea of it sparked Jacksonville’s legs during the fifth set.
The White Plains scored three consecutive points to make it 10- 7, Swain became active. She yelled for a set while she came in to the left of Sydney Soriano and hit it home for an 11-7 score. and then blocked the next point.
The two points sparked Jacksonville’s winning streak, as they Golden Eagles scored five of the last six points. Swain was 15 kills away as did Soriano with 33 assists.
The match came to an end, Swain teared up on the bench, contemplating what could have happened in his senior teammate Jehenna Engram’s last home game.
“I’ve played with my close friend Jehenna for the last three years,” Swain said. “It’s pure emotion to witness her playing her last game and it was an emotional experience for us.
“Honestly I’ve been very grateful to her for being a major part of my volleyball team, simply playing volleyball alongside her.”
