Meet the Sun Herald All-South Mississippi Volleyball Team for the 2022 season
South Mississippi volleyball once again showed off its strength in 2022 by sending four teams to the final round of the postseason. Our Lady Academy, East Central, Pass Christian and Resurrection all earned South State titles while the Crescents took home a state championship.
Our Lady Academy sweeps this year’s awards as the lone team on top of a deeply talented Gulf Coast region.
Here is the 2022 Sun Herald All-South Mississippi Volleyball Team.
Coach of the Year
Emily Myers Corley, Our Lady Academy
Corley and the Crescents took home state title No. 15 this season and the first under Corley’s tutelage. Her father, Mike Myers, had won 14 championships in 20 years. Corley took over in 2020 and led OLA back to the finals in 2021. The Crescents captured the 3A crown by taking down reigning champion Alcorn Central.
Player of the Year
Annalaura Williford, Our Lady Academy
Williford ended her successful high school career as MVP of the state title match and will enter new waters as the Sun Herald’s Volleyball Player of the Year.
Heading to Pearl River C.C., Williford has a versatile skill set that makes her one of the top athletes on the Coast. The senior finished the 2022 campaign with 496 kills on a lethal .470 hit percentage. She served up 87 aces, totaled 30 blocks and had 194 digs.
Fan Vote Player of the Year
Myah Favre, Our Lady Academy
Favre’s varsity career has gotten off on the right foot as the freshman garners the Fan’s Choice Player of the Year honor to go along with her state championship. Favre narrowly edged out East Central star Morgan Mears with 43% of the vote to Mears’ 42 to capture the OLA awards sweep.
Starting VI
- Myah Favre, Our Lady Academy: A VolleyballMag.com Dream Team Player of the Week honoree, Favre had a Coast-leading 532 kills in her freshman season.
- Annalaura Williford, Our Lady Academy: Williford joined the varsity roster the year Corley took over as head coach and the two brought home their first titles in Williford’s final season.
- Sydney Mitchell, Gulfport: Mitchell was dynamic on the court for the Admirals, recording 458 kills and 332 digs. Mitchell will continue her career at Southeastern Louisiana.
- Alexa Palmer, Hancock: Palmer broke out in her senior season with 333 kills and 309 digs.
- Anna Hoffmayer, Ocean Springs: Hoffmayer burst onto the scene as a net-protecting freshman this season, logging 161 blocks to go along with 255 kills.
- Rhys St. Amant, Ocean Springs: St. Amant’s role increased this season and she was more than up for the challenge, sending down 224 kills, picking up 447 digs and recording 58 blocks.
All-South Mississippi Volleyball
- Peyton Russell, Hancock: Russell had 368 kills in her senior season along with 87 blocks and 86 digs.
- Anslee James, Hancock: James is one to keep an eye on, her sophomore year produced 645 assists and 352 digs.
- Corinne Cason, Vancleave: Cason picked up 275 kills, 108 serving aces and 284 digs as a senior.
- Alex Pickich, Vancleave: Pickich had 495 assists in her final season to go along with 191 digs.
- Mary Carlton Descher, Ocean Springs: Descher filled up her stat line, logging 182 kills, 362 assists, 271 digs and 71 blocks.
- Carmela Coulter, Ocean Springs: Coulter had 154 kills and 178 blocks while roaming the net this year.
- Peyton Hoffmayer, Ocean Springs: Anna’s older sister and a PRCC dual-sport commit, Peyton had 273 digs and 154 kills her senior season.
- Brooklynn Montana, Gulfport: Montana helped lead GHS to an historic finish with 626 assists in her final year on the court.
- Anna Kate Rounsaville, Gulfport: One of the Coast’s most talented liberos, Rounsaville had 341 digs and 62 assists.
- Jhaida McDuffie, Gulfport: McDuffie did it all with 224 digs, 158 kills, 107 assists and 54 blocks.
- Avery Matheson, Our Lady Academy: Matheson was one of the best setters on the Coast as a senior, leading South Mississippi in assists with 818.
- Ava Alonso, Our Lady Academy: Alonso was named a MAC All Star and had 106 kills plus 179 digs.
- Morgan Mears, East Central: Mears had 206 kills, 78 digs and 57 blocks as a junior and was named a MAC All Star.
- LeAnn Lambert, East Central: Lambert had 456 digs and 115 kills in her junior season.
Honorable mention
Lila Turner, Hancock; Lilly Rutland, Ocean Springs; Samantha Ruscio, Ocean Springs; Lucy Pepper, Ocean Springs; Mercedes Seymour, Vancleave; Kailey Johnson, Gulfport; Allie Hamric, Gulfport; Ava Davis, Our Lady Academy; Makayla Cooper, East Central; Beauna Cumbest, East Central; Amelia Kate Frederic, Resurrection; Abigail Radicia, Biloxi; Madison Butler, D’Iberville
Missing anyone? Send nominees with season stats to swatkins@sunherald.com.
This story was originally published December 9, 2022 at 3:35 PM.
