The Volley Hounds came up with a useful way to bounce back after dropping a pair of region matches last Tuesday.
That was to get back on the winning track two days later.
After 25-20 and 25-12 losses to Union Grove and a pair of 25-20 defeats to Locust Grove, Jones County got back going on its home court, sweeping Mary Persons and ACE. After taking care of the Bulldogs 25-17 and 25-20, JCHS disposed of ACE on a pair of 25-19 victories, improving to 26-7 overall.
“We wanted to show up and the way we knew how to. We really needed it going into next week,” Lady Greyhounds head coach Leah Bodnarchuk said. “That’s big for confidence.”
Those two wins were key for the Lady Hounds, as the task over the final handful of games is all about cementing their position in the power rankings, where Jones County began the week ninth. This past Tuesday’s match against Ola and Perry in addition to games played in Saturday’s region tournament stand to factor greatly into where the Lady Hounds end up from a power-rankings standpoint.
“We talk about it a lot. We were first in the region before last week, and now we’re fourth,” Bodnarchuk said. “We really want to be in the top three going into the region tournament. If we can do that, we’ll be sitting pretty.”
JCHS also hosts Rutland next Tuesday on senior night.
With the start/finish line to complete the regular season nearing, the goal for JCHS is to finish as strong as the Lady Hounds did in their second game Thursday against ACE. After leading 8-3, Jones County’s lead built to 21-8 with Molly Jo Register at the serve. That lead was closed out with a win as Isabella Bodnarchuk served the final three points with key late plays at the net made by Zakeena Sturgeon and freshman Samiyah McMillian.
“She’s been amazing for us,” Coach Bodnarchuk said of the freshman. “She’s done a really good job and is playing a different position than on JV, but we knew she could do it. She’s doing a great job.”
