Earlier this year, Winston Academy got over the hump with a win over Choctaw County with the school’s first win over the Lady Chargers in the four-year history of the volleyball program.
More history was hopeful to be made on Monday night against cross-county rival Grace Christian.
The tough Lady Eagles program has never given up more than a set to the Lady Pats over the years, but Senior Night at Farrell Rigby Gymnasium would be different. Down 23-17 in the fourth set, the Lady Pats stormed back with eight of the final nine points on the way to a historic win over Grace, 3-1.
“A big thing that our girls have struggled with is coming back when we’re down,” coach Candice Cefalu said. “We’ve really worked on that the past few matches even though we lost. I think that proved that we can overcome being down.”
It was a match that easily could have been a 3-0 win for the Lady Pats if not for a squandered first set. Behind the crowd inside the home gym and the spirit of Senior Night for Riley Peterman, Analeigh Dempsey, Julianna Sims, and Hannah Grace Dalton, WA came out hot.
The Lady Pats built a lead in the match and would get to within two points of the first set at 23-19. But a couple of free points given to Grace let the Lady Eagles back in the match, and they would ultimately take the first set 25-23.
WA came back in each of the next two sets and took care of business, however. That set up a chance for the win in set number four for the home team, and it looked like they were going to let it slip away when it was 23-17. Behind the serving of Jillian Sims and the front row hitters like Braley Dickerson, Layton Nowell, and Chloe Hillyer, the Lady Pats scored seven-straight points. With the set tied at 24, WA would get back-to-back points to close out the win.
“This one tops them all because this has been untouchable in our mind to beat Grace Christian,” Cefalu said. “They have a great program and have beat us every time this year. I’m just glad that my team didn’t give up.”
The win improved WA to 5-13 on the season, and the Lady Pats are getting set to close out the regular season. The team got some great news this week with the selection of seniors Dempsey and Julianna Sims to the MAIS All-Star game at Jackson Academy next month.
It’s a great honor and the first in WA volleyball history as Sims and Dempsey were chosen by coaches around the state. It shows what those two have meant to the program over the years, but it also shows the impact that they’ve shown to other coaches around the state when they’ve played.
“It’s super exciting. I never would have thought four years ago that I would have anybody make All-Star. Those girls have worked so hard, and every year have gotten better,” Cefalu said. “I think it speaks volumes for our program, and we are an MAIS team to contend now. I think those girls are going to do big things.”
Sims has been a part of the team since its inception and has enjoyed learning and playing the game, and now she gets a chance to finish out her career with her teammate on one of the biggest stages in the MAIS.
“I didn’t think that I even had a chance to be represented because they pick from everybody in Mississippi. When Mrs. Candice called me and said that I made the All-Star team, I was over the moon. I’m competing with schools like JA, Lamar, Jackson Prep, and teams like that. I’m ecstatic,” Sims said. “I know that we started late. I’ve only been playing four years, and we’re not as developed as everyone else, but I think we have one of the best teams, one of the best environments and team chemistry. I wouldn’t want to play for any other team.”
