By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

A brand new prep volleyball season kicks into high gear Tuesday night across the state of Mississippi.

And that’s just the case all throughout the “Southern Six” as well.

In Ocean Springs, the Lady Greyhounds are coming off of their first ever state championship after bringing the Class 7A title from Clinton back home to the Gulf Coast last year.

Ocean Springs, once again under the direction of head coach Christina Daigle, will be back home in Hubbard Gymnasium for the first time since beating Harrison Central in the South State semifinal round last October.

The Lady Greyhounds then went to Brandon and swept the Lady Bulldogs, and wrapped up an historic year at 40-5 overall by sweeping Madison Central in the title tilt.

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.

Ocean Springs hosts Jackson Academy Tuesday night to open the home portion of its regular season schedule.

Both teams, along with 30 others, tipped off the season over the weekend in Jackson at the fourth annual Mississippi Volleyball Invitational in Clinton at MC.

Jackson Academy went 5-0, while OSHS went 4-1 after starting off at a quick 4-0.

OLA, which captured yet another state crown last year, Hancock and East Central also competed in the “Gold Bracket” at the event. Oxford beat Lewisburg in the championship round.

In the “Silver Bracket”, Gulfport, West Harrison, George County, Vancleave and Bay High all competed. West Harrison fell to Newton County in the finals.

Newton County got past George County in the semifinals.

Elsewhere in the “Southern Six” Tuesday night, George County hosts Gulfport, D’Iberville is at East Central, Resurrection hosts Vancleave, Biloxi travels to Pearl River Central and Pass Christian hosts Long Beach as well as Picayune heading to Stone, St. Patrick hosts Bay High and Hancock at OLA.