Lake Cormorant claims repeat DeSoto County volleyball championship

HERNANDO, Miss. — The Lake Cormorant Lady Gators volleyball team cemented a dynasty status by winning the DeSoto County championship for a second consecutive year, defeating Lewisburg High School in a straight-sets sweep (25-19, 25-21) on Saturday at Hernando.

The final match pitted the reigning Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state champion, Lake Cormorant, against the Class 7A title holder, Lewisburg, highlighting the high-level competition in DeSoto County volleyball.

Senior outside hitter Sofia Gonzalez, who is also the current 6A Miss Volleyball in Mississippi, led the Lady Gators and secured repeat honors as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

“It feels really good because of the competition we played,” Lake Cormorant coach Christina Morgan said after the victory. “We played such good teams today. I’m just so proud of them because of the battling that they had to do today, and they all just got together and did their part. It was a total team effort.”

The championship capped a rigorous day of play. Both teams advanced from pool play to the single-elimination bracket, where Lake Cormorant survived a three-set scare against DeSoto Central, including a marathon 32-30 second set victory. Lewisburg also needed three sets to overcome Hernando and reach the final.

In the championship match, Lake Cormorant built an early 10-7 lead in the first set, extending it to 15-10 before Lewisburg called a timeout. The Lady Patriots rallied to 17-15, but Lake Cormorant pulled away for a 25-19 win. The second set saw Lake Cormorant take a 7-4 lead. Lewisburg kept the pressure on, closing the gap to 19-17 and forcing a Lake Cormorant timeout. Clutch kills from Gonzalez and Payton Davis late in the set secured the 25-21 set win and the match.

Morgan emphasized the value of the intense tournament play ahead of the state playoffs.

“This is exactly the kind of game that we want to be playing right now,” Morgan said. “We want to be in these kinds of high, tense pressure situations that we were in today. They handled it really well. So I’m hoping these types of situations help prepare us for the playoffs.”

Gonzalez’s impact was also highlighted by her coach.

“I’m blessed to have her,” Morgan said. “The impact that she gives our team, it goes on to the players around her. I think she’s making such a big impact. I think it’s an impact that we’ll see for years to come. She’s just that kind of player.”

The Lady Gators will conclude their regular season next week with matches against Olive Branch and Alcorn Central. Lewisburg’s final regular season match is Tuesday, when the Lady Patriots host Northpoint Christian, the defending Tennessee Division 2-A state champion.