While most people are familiar with slapping a volleyball around at family reunions or in the backyard, most in South Mississippi are not familiar with the formal, indoor game. But that’s changing.
Up until about five years ago, only the largest high schools fielded teams. Now more and more are adding the sport each year, West Marion head coach Todd Pittman says.
“It’s fun; it’s fast-paced, and it’s something you don’t have to be the greatest athlete to be able to play,” he said.
Volleyball season opens this weekend in Marion County with the Classic Tournament Saturday at Columbia High School.
The host school will be joined by East Marion, West Marion, Salem, Seminary and Petal. Play gets under way at 10 a.m.
Pittman said he and the other coaches in the county didn’t know much about volleyball when they began coaching it but have worked to learn as much as they can so they can pass on that knowledge.
A lot of the girls have never seen or played it, so Pittman said he started a junior high program a few years back to create a foundation.
“You have to start from scratch trying to teach the basics versus basketball or softball that they’ve been playing from a young age,” he said.
Here’s a look at some of the local teams:
Columbia High
Head coach Scott Fitzgerald said he feels good about his squad despite losing six seniors. They run a 5-1 offense where one person does all the setting, and taking up that responsibility will be returning starter Trena Tran. The other returning starter is outside hitter Sadie Willis.
A sophomore stepping up to be the second outside hitter is Abby Morris.
Middle blocker is Elizabeth Sanford, and Lauren Hill, a junior who is playing volleyball for the first time, is in the other middle position.
The right side hitter is Talijah Pace, and Michelle Martin rounds out the main seven-girl rotation.
Fitzgerald said they attended a Mississippi State team camp last week for two days.
“We’re coming back pretty excited about what’s going on. Right now we’ve just been working on ball handling,” he said, adding they’ll start implementing their offense on Friday.
Columbia is dropping back this year into Class 1, which is the same as East, West, Salem, Tylertown and Amite County.
West Marion
Pittman, the head coach, said he’s expecting a building year as his team does not possess a lot of depth or experience.
“I’ve got five seniors this year, but only three of them have really got any playing experience,” he said. “Just going to be real young. Going to be learning a lot this year.”
Some key players include seniors Destiny Harvey, India Sartin and Paris Andrews.
Elaina Hollis and Avery Holmes will both be learning a new position this season, setter, which Pittman said the offense flows around.
East Marion
At East Marion, head coach Mandell Echols, who could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday, will again be leading the team. n
Charlie Smith is editor and publisher of The Columbian-Progress. He can be reached at (601) 736-2611 or by email at csmith@columbianprogress.com.
