Lake Cormorant 3, Hernando 0 (25-22, 25-11, 25-23)
(Lake Cormorant: Sofia Gonzalez led with 14 kills, four aces. Ariana Woods had three blocks, Jania Rose made 12 digs, and Dallas White made 30 assists.)
Lewisburg 3, Center Hill 0 (25-6, 25-16, 25-17)
(Lewisburg: Ava Becker 12 kills, attacking .500, two aces and four digs; Hallie Wright 10 kills, attacking .692, two blocks, Addison Cole nine kills, attacking .818, two blocks; Jordis Newsome with six kills and two digs. Claire Smith had 37 assists,10 digs and four aces.)
Horn Lake 3, South Panola 1
Southaven 3, Senatobia (25-21, 25-11, 28-26)
DeSoto Central 3, Tupelo 1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-13, 26-24)
(DeSoto Central: Reese McIntosh had 11 kills, 19 digs, and four aces. Zion Rucker and Emma Story each added 10 kills. Remy McIntosh had four aces and 13 digs. Sydney Tague had 42 assists and two aces.)
LAKE CORMORANT 3, HERNANDO 0: The school-day encounter between the Lady Gators and Lady Tigers was far from an easy win for the defending MHSAA 6A state champions in front of their student body. The first set was a tight one until Lake Cormorant took a 19-18 lead, increased in 22-19 before Hernando rallied to get within 23-22 before the Lady Gators prevailed. The second set was a much easier one for Lake Cormorant, which scored the first four points and at one point led 16-6 before continuing to pull away and take the set. Hernando rallied back in the third set with a 14-11 lead and led 17-14 before the Lady Gators would tie the set at 19-19. It stayed closed after that before Lake Cormorant scored the last three points for the 25-23 set win and match sweep.
Lake Cormorant coach Christina Morgan calls the “school-day game” one of her favorites of the season.
“I tell the girls, the school’s here and they love the volleyball team,” Morgan said. “It’s their chance to showcase to them what you have been doing all summer and what you’re trying to get to the rest of the season. I thought the student body was loud and amazing today.”
Second-year Hernando head coach Jamie Cross-Johnson said she’s seeing a vast improvement in her team from last year.
“We’ve got a different mindset this year and just a different level that we’re wanting to play at,” Cross-Johnson said. “I’m excited to play them again when they come to our place.”
Early in the match, Lake Cormorant senior setter Dallas White reached a career milestone with assist number 2,000.
“She’s been starting varsity since she was a sophomore and every year she just leads this team,” Morgan said. “We’ve been working on spreading the ball and I thought she did a really good job. She creates a lot of opportunities out there.”
DESOTO CENTRAL 3, TUPELO 1: DeSoto Central took home the first set after battling the Lady Wave until the Lady Jags scored six of seven points for a 19-14 lead with Shelbi Smith at the service line. Two ace services from Reese McIntosh gave DeSoto Central at 23-15 edge before the 25-17 set win. Tupelo won the second set after trailing 22-20 following a kill from DeSoto Central’s Sharray Morgan by scoring five of the last six points. The Lady Jags roared out in the third set for a 5-0 lead and led 15-5 after an ace from Zion Rucker before continuing the run to the 25-13 victory. In the fourth set, DeSoto Central led 15-11 with Morgan at the service line but the Lady Wave rallied to within 20-19 Lady Jags. Tupelo forced a DeSoto Central timeout with a 23-22 Lady Wave lead but the Lady Jags won the set and match by scoring the last three points. Tuesday’s game was played with the Lady Jags wearing orange jersey emblazoned with “Rudd” across the back. The move was made in respect to senior baseball player Tucker Rudd, who died in a recent traffic accident. “Orange was Tucker’s favorite color and today would have been his birthday,” said Lady Jag volleyball coach Margaret Falatko.
LADY GATORS’ WHITE HITS CAREER ASSIST MARK:
During the Tuesday morning match between Lake Cormorant and Hernando, Lady Gator setter Dallas White reached 2,000 career assists. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
