By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

CLINTON — The wait is over.
Ocean Springs captured its first-ever state volleyball championship in school history with an impressive 3-0 sweep over Madison Central here Thursday night.
The Lady Greyhounds trailed only briefly all match long and picked up a 25-10, 25-16, 25-18 decision in the Class 7A state title tilt on the hardwood at A. E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College. The decision ends this historic campaign for OSHS and head coach Christina Daigle at a solid 40-5 overall as they bring that first gold ball ever back on home to the Gulf Coast.

“There is NO feeling like this one,” Daigle said, amid an on-court celebration. “This team was so deserving. They worked so hard all year long through all the setbacks. They stayed focused, trusted each other, and believed in the process. Bringing this championship home to Ocean Springs means everything.

“All I can say is, to God be the Glory!”
Madison Central ends its season at 28-11. The match was played before a packed house.
The Lady Greyhounds followed some strong play at the net by senior standout Anna Hoffmayer to take a quick 7-2 lead in the first set and never look back.
That commanding 15-point win in set one by OSHS set the tone for the evening and the Lady Greyhounds stayed focused throughout.
Sophomore libero Alden St. Amant was a catalyst all match long for Ocean Springs, directing plays while both returning and setting up shots as well.

For her play, St. Amant earned the Most Valuable Player award in the Class 7A state championship match.

Ocean Springs senior Lily Rutland was impressive up front as well as she helped the Lady Greyhounds control most of the action in the net.

It marked the second straight trip here for OSHS to play for the Class 7A state crown, but the Lady Greyhounds left with a much better taste in their jaws this year after they fell in a reverse sweep last year to Lewisburg dropping the final three sets after winning the first two.

The Ocean Springs-Madison Central contest was the final of four state title match-ups on Thursday in day one of action. Three more gold balls will be decided on Friday.