Championship and heartbreak for MS Coast volleyball teams competing for state titles
The Mississippi Coast will be well represented at the volleyball state championships in Clinton this week.
Four schools earned South State titles out of seven from the Coast who competed in the semifinal round. Ocean Springs, Hancock, East Central and Our Lady Academy are all making the trip to A.E. Wood Coliseum at Mississippi College hoping to bring some hardware back home.
Matches start on Thursday where three Coast teams will play in quick succession. East Central will play in the final championship game on Friday.
Live updates
Our Lady Academy wins 3A state championship
The Crescents made it three in a row for head coach Emily Corley by earning the program’s 17th state championship Thursday. Our Lady Academy defeated Belmont, 3-1, to defend its 3A throne.
Our Lady lost the first set, 25-13, but responded with three straight set victories that finished with a dramatic 25-23 state-clinching fourth set. Freshman Taylor Henley was named MVP with 15 kills, 14 digs and four blocks.
Hancock falls short in 6A championship
The Hawks’ bid for history ended in the final round for the second year in a row.
Hancock fell to Lake Cormorant in three sets (25-21, 25-19, 25-13). The Hawks return home as back-to-back 6A South State champions and statewide runner-ups. It was the Gators’ third straight state title.
Greyhounds leave heartbroken
Ocean Springs was victim to a reverse sweep in a five-set loss to Lewisburg. Ocean Springs won each of the first two sets, 25-20. Lewisburg extended the match with a 25-18 set three win and forced a winner-take-all with a 25-20 set four win.
The Patriots used a 9-2 run in the final set to win 15-8 and capture their second straight state championship.
Hornets swept in 5A
East Central’s season came to an end in three-set fashion, falling to Lafayette 25-20, 25-21, 25-17.
The meeting was a rematch of last year’s state championship, which had the same result and gave the Commodores their second consecutive state title.
Full Schedule
Thursday, Oct. 17
Starting at 10:00 with 30 minutes between games:
- 1A West Union vs Stringer
- 2A Ingomar vs Lake
- 3A Belmont vs OLA
- 6A Lake Cormorant vs Hancock
- 7A Lewisburg vs Ocean Springs
Friday, October 18
Starting at 10:00 with 30 minutes between games:
- 4A New Albany vs Purvis
- 5A Lafayette vs East Central
Hancock and East Central are both back-to-back South State title winners and looking to finish the job this time after coming away as runner-ups a year ago. Ocean Springs and star Lilly Rutland must get through the reigning state champs in Lewisburg.
This story was originally published October 16, 2024 at 11:06 AM.
