SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

September 1, 2026

Prep Volleyball: As calendar flips to September, action takes on more importance

West Harrison’s Kylee King sets up a shot vs. Hancock in recent action. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

As the calendar flips to the last month of regular season play, prep volleyball action all across the “Southern Six” starts to take on even more importance.
Two teams still battling for he top spot in the respective regions recently met in an exciting five set showdown in the Kiln.

West Harrison’s Maddie Rogers tips the ball at the net as Hancock’s Blyth Martinez defends in recent action. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

West Harrison libero Hadlee Weinberg makes a save as Lady Hurricane Kyshja Maurice reacts vs. Hancock in recent action. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

West Harrison’s Makayla Ladner (8) and Maddie Malley (23) defend as Hancock’s Madison Moran returns a shot at the netin recent action. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

Visiting West Harrison came out on top over home-standing Hancock in that one (27-29), 26-24, 25-20, 25-22 and 15-13). The Lady Hurricanes are currently 16-8 overall, and sit in the second spot in the Region 4-7A race behind defending Class 7A state champ Ocean Springs.
In the win, West Harrison senior standout Emma Bunn had 21 kills and 20 digs, while Makayla Ladner had 19 kills and five blocks along with 13 digs and Kylee King had recorded 23 assists. Also, Maddie Rogers had 19 assists and 12 digs while Paisley French added five blocks.

West Harrison’s Chanel Herron lofts up a shot up at the net between Hancock defenders Paityn Langley (11) and Blyth Martinez (5) in recent action. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

West Harrison’s Emma Bunn stretches out to make a shot vs. Hancock in recent action. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

West Harrison’s Jainya Collier returns a shot at the net as Hancock’s Madison Reso (2) and Hartleigh Ladner (3) defend in recent action. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

Hancock currently is 13-6 overall and is in first place at 2-0 in Region 4-6A. In the match against WHHS, the Lady Hawks got 16 kills from Kaitlyn Reso and four blocks from Paityn Langley. Madison Reso registered 30 assists and six service aces, while multi-sport stalwart Lexi Dreher had 22 digs. Hartleigh Ladner added 14 assists, Blyth Martinez had 11 digs and Madison Moran had 12 kills.
West Harrison plays at St. Martin Tuesday night and Hancock is on the road as well at Picayune.

West Harrison’s Makayla Ladner leaps to swat the ball at the net as Hancock’s Paityn Langley stretches out to defend in recent action. (Photo by Allan Ritter)