Prep Volleyball Final: OLA extends dominance, while OSHS, Hancock and East Central come up just short
OLA’s Taylor Henley leaps up to make a shot vs. Belmont in the Class 3A state championship match. (Photo by Joe Harper)
By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
CLINTON — Only three teams from South Mississippi brought home state volleyball championships late last week here at A.E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College and the “Southern Six” squads ended up winning just one title in four tries.
OLA won its third straight Class 3A state crown with a 3-1 (13-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-23) decision over Belmont Thursday afternoon.
OLA’s Ava Davis sets up as assist on a shot vs. Belmont in the Class 3A state championship match. (Photo by Joe Harper)OLA’s Myah Favre was the Class 3A “Miss Volleyball” this season. (Photo by Joe Harper)OLA’s Kensley Stegall makes a serve vs. Belmont in the Class 3A state championship match. (Photo by Joe Harper)
The title was the 17th overall for the Lady Crescents, a number that is tops in the state. OLA’s Freshman Taylor Henley had 18 serving aces and five total blocks in the winning effort and was named the Most Valuable Player while junior Myah Fave added nine kills and had three serving aces. Fave was recently recognized as the Class 3A “Miss Volleyball” in the state of Mississippi by The Mississippi High School Activities Association.
Also, Ava Davis had 39 assists and four aces for the Crescents, while Kinsley Stegall registered 22 digs in the winning effort.
OLA finished the season at a stellar 42-4, while the Lady Cardinals ended up at 29-13.
Baylor Edmiston of Ocean Springs sets up a shot Thursday night vs. Lewisburg in the Class 7A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)Taylor Douglas of Ocean Springs sets up a shot Thursday night vs. Lewisburg in the Class 7A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)Mary Carlton Descher of Ocean Springs goes up for a shot Thursday night vs. Lewisburg in the Class 7A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)Carmela Coulter goes to the net for a shot Thursday night vs. Lewisburg in the Class 7A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)Libero River Schmidt of Ocean Springs makes a save Thursday night vs. Lewisburg in the Class 7A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)Lily Rutland of Ocean Springs goes up for a kill at the net Thursday night vs. Lewisburg in the Class 7A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)Anna Hoffman of Ocean Springs sets up her serve Thursday night vs. Lewisburg in the Class 7A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)
In Class 7A, despite taking the first two sets from defending state champion Lewisburg Ocean Springs couldn’t hold on for its first-ever state title in school history as the Lady Patriots bounced back and won three consecutive sets (20-25, 20-25, 25-18, 25-20, 15-8) for its second title in two years and sixth state title in program history.
Hallie Wright was the game MVP for LHS with 14 kills and four blocks.
Lewisburg finished the season 31-9 and OSHS at a solid 36-10.
Hancock’s Laney Necaise makes a return shot Thursday afternoon vs. Lake Cormorant in the Class 6A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)Hancock’s Madison Reso makes a return shot Thursday afternoon night vs. Lake Cormorant in the Class 6A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)Hancock’s Laney Necaise makes a serve Thursday afternoon vs. Lake Cormorant in the Class 6A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)Hancock libero Cambria Necaise makes a save Thursday afternoon vs. Lake Cormorant in the Class 6A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)Hancock’s Lakyn Ladner makes a shot at the net Thursday afternoon night vs. Lake Cormorant in the Class 6A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)
In Class 6A, Lake Cormorant continued its dominance in the second highest classification in the state with a 3-0 sweep over Hancock (25-21, 25-19, 25-13) and captured its second straight Class 6A title and third championship after winning 5A in 2022. Lady Gator Sofia Gonzalez, who was also named Class 6A “Miss Volleyball”, was the game MVP. The Lady Gators are the third team in MHSAA history to win three straight state championships, joining recent winners Ingomar and OLA.
Lake Cormorant finished the season at an impressive 39-5 while the Lady Hawks ended up at 31-8.
Ava Brewer of East Central goes up for a return Friday afternoon night vs. Lafayette in the Class 5A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)Adelia Goff of East Central makes a save Friday afternoon vs. Lafayette in the Class 5A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)Mady Krebs of East Central goes up for a block Friday afternoon night vs. Lafayette in the Class 5A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)Breyona Tanner stretches out for a kill Friday afternoon vs. Lafayette in the Class 5A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)Kaitlyn Hooks of East Central goes up for a return Friday afternoon vs. Lafayette in the Class 5A state title match. (Photo by Joe Harper)
And, in Class 5A, Lafayette also defended its state crown with a 3-0 sweep (25-20, 25-21, 25-17) over East Central for its second consecutive Class 5A state title. Lady Commodore Mabry Eason, also the Class 6A “Miss Volleyball”, won the game MVP honors with 13 kills and nine digs.
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