Northwest volleyball season ends in five-set Region 23 semifinal thriller

• Northwest Mississippi Community College volleyball’s season ended Saturday in a five-set loss to Pearl River Community College in the Region 23 semifinal.
• The Rangers (30-6) fell to the Wildcats (28-10) in a narrow 16-18 fifth set after battling back to force the deciding frame.
• Freshman Adalyn Callahan led Northwest with a double-double, recording 15 kills and 16 assists in the season-ending match.

ELLISVILLE, Miss. – The Northwest Mississippi Community College volleyball team’s season came to a dramatic close Saturday in a five-set thriller against Pearl River Community College.

The Rangers lost the Region 23 semifinal match (25-10, 21-25, 24-26, 25-20, 16-18) hosted by Jones College. The loss ends the Rangers’ season with a 30-6 record. Pearl River (28-10) advanced with the win.

“They laid it all on the court,” Head Coach Allison Burchyett said. “I was so proud of their effort, their heart, their love for one another, and it was so evident in the way that they played hard for each other.”

Northwest dominated the first set 25-10, but the Wildcats battled back to win the next two sets, 25-21 and 26-24, to take a 2-1 lead.

Facing elimination, the Rangers rallied from an 8-1 deficit in the fourth set to win 25-20, forcing a deciding fifth set. The final set was tied at 14, 15, and 16 before Pearl River secured the final two points for an 18-16 victory to clinch the match.

Freshman Adalyn Callahan led the Rangers with a double-double, finishing with 15 kills and 16 assists. Ariana Woods added 10 kills and five block assists.

Chloe Rodriguez contributed 18 assists, while Dallas White had 16 assists and six aces. Jania Rose anchored the defense with 21 digs.

The loss marks the final match for the program’s winningest sophomore class, which combined for 55 wins over two seasons.

“They are a gritty bunch who care about one another,” Burchyett said of the sophomores. “Our freshman class is really strong and has lots of promise and there is plenty to be excited for.”