The Choctaw County volleyball team improved to 6-0 in Class I, Region 4 play with victories over Nanih Waiya and Amory. The Lady Chargers defeated Nanih Waiya 25-15, 25-16, 25-13 and Amory 25-19, 21-25, 25-18, 25-19.
Choctaw County is the only undefeated team in region play for the seven-team region. The top two will qualify for the MHSAA playoffs beginning Oct. 17.
“(I) thought our play last week was outstanding,” said coach Miranda Worrell. “The Amory match was a really tough match and the girls were really tough and gritty and got it done. The only downside is I wish we could bring that intensity for every game we play.
“Really proud of the girls for staying undefeated in division play and hope we can keep that streak alive this week.”
Choctaw County played West Lowndes Tuesday and has a home match with Aberdeen Thursday. Both are region matches.
Addie Stacy had six kills against Nanih Waiya and 10 in the Amory match. Caden Mills totaled 27 assists in the two matches and Mary Claire Cagle had 10 digs and 15 service receptions against Amory.
Grace Christian drops five-setter to Heritage
By Laurence Hilliard
Choctaw Plaindealer
The Grace Christian volleyball team suffered two losses to quality opponents last week. A comeback against Heritage Academy fell short in a 3-2 defeat and the Lady Eagles were beaten by Starkville 3-0.
After dropping the first two sets to Heritage, 25-23 and 25-21, the Lady Eagles evened the match by winning the next two 25-18 an 25-9. That set up a decisive fifth set, won by Heritage 15-8.
Coincidentally, Heritage also won an earlier match with Grace Christian 3-2 and the fifth set was also 15-8.
“In the fourth set we did really well,” said coach Jamey Willers. “We served well and had a lot of control and confidence. But in the fifth set, I think we came out nervous and stopped moving,”
Jasmine Kelly had 13 kills against Heritage and Anna Howell had nine. Maggie Phillips had eight aces, Bella Brownlee had 11 assists and Anna Gillis had nine. Carley Peterson had 10 service receptions, Kelly had nine.
Willers said her team played one of its best matches against Starkville despite a 25-15, 25-13, 25-16 defeat. Starkville, an MHSAA 6A school, is one of the state's best teams. The Yellowjackets are 15-3, ranked seventh in the state by the website MaxPreps.
Zoe Elder had 33 assists and six kills for Starkville.
Grace Christian had matches Monday against Amory Christian and Regents School of Oxford and has a home match Thursday with Noxapater.
