East Marion is used to seeing strong volleyball play under head coach Mandell Echols, and 2023 has been no different with the Eagles sitting just one spot back of the top of Region 8-1A.
The Eagles (14-4, 4-2) dropped their only district match of the season to Resurrection Catholic – a team that has swept every district opponent so far – Aug. 24 but have fought back to win five straight matches, including three district matches. What’s more impressive is that each of the last seven matches have been on the road leading up to Tuesday’s district rematch against Resurrection Catholic.
“It gives our fanbase an opportunity to come support them because normally it’s the same people, a couple of parents, and we don’t have a student section,” Echols said on what it means to return to play in Marion County. “The student section keeps the energy up for us, so I think that’ll be a lot better for us.”
After topping Salem and Sacred Heart in four sets in district matchups Sept. 5 and Sept. 7., respectively, the Eagles swept Hattiesburg Monday to put an end to the long road trip. Waiting for the Eagles at the end of the odyssey was Resurrection Catholic, who traveled to meet the Eagles west of the Pearl River at West Marion due to construction in East Marion’s gym. The rematch may very well have been for the district title. Though the Eagles ultimately fell in five sets to Resurrection after coming back from a two-set deficit, Echols knew going into Tuesday that his team was ready after fixing some mistakes from the previous encounter.
“From the first whistle to the end of the whistle, we started the match (Aug. 24) off at their place up 21-13, and we just got relaxed. We made a couple of mistakes, and we ended up losing (the first set) 25-22,” Echols said about what went wrong in the first meeting with Resurrection. “Then the second set, we were up 20-15, and the same thing. We got relaxed and ended up losing 25-21. Keeping our foot on the gas. Be ready every play because they’re hitting the ball from a bunch of different angles, and that’s something we’re used to.”
The Eagles’ next match is scheduled to emanate from East Marion Thursday against Lumberton with a start time of 6:30 p.m.
On the West side of Marion County, the Trojans take the court Thursday for a match against Tylertown after falling to St. Patrick for the second time this season at home Sept. 7. After dropping the first set 25-16, West Marion hung tough until the very end, but St. Patrick pulled off the sweep with set victories of 25-21 and 25-22.
The Trojans’ home matchup against Tylertown is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday.
Columbia started the season with a strong record, but it lost five out of its last six matches, including four straight leading into Monday’s district contest at home against Lawrence County Monday. A large factor for the Wildcats’ slump came down to injuries, as Columbia elevated two junior varsity players to play for both the JV and varsity teams, according to Columbia head coach Lindsay Ball.
“We’ve had a rough run, but we’ve also played the last couple of games missing some key players,” Ball said. “That really puts a damper on it when you can’t play with your regular set. We’ll play this week missing those players, but we have some fabulous junior varsity girls that are stepping up – Raniyah Woodson and Meliah McNease. … I think with enough playing time, they’re going to prove themselves as being key parts to the varsity team.”
Ball said Adrieyana Fortenberry is out with an ACL injury, and Madysen Stogner is missing time due to an undisclosed health issue.
Columbia traveled to Purvis Tuesday for a district matchup, where the Wildcats fell in three sets, before returning home to host Sumrall Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
