Thursday sports: DeSoto Central sweeps Horn Lake in volleyball region opener

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – DeSoto Central volleyball improved to 7-2 on the season and opened Region 1-7A play with a straight-set win over Horn Lake on Thursday night, Aug. 14, winning 25-15, 25-8, 25-12.

Genesis Weeks led the Lady Jaguars with 10 kills, while Ellie Nehls added seven. Lydia Harrison delivered 14 assists and four aces, and Hallie Willis contributed four digs and two aces.

DeSoto Central took control early in the first set, breaking open a 4-4 tie with a four-point run for an 8-4 lead. The Lady Jaguars kept the pressure on, extending their advantage to 20-10 before closing the set 25-15 on a point from Lariah Wallace.

In the second set, DeSoto Central’s serving attack was dominant, jumping out to an 8-2 lead behind kills from Iyana Fields and an ace from Natalie Loftin. The Lady Jaguars built a 19-6 margin, capped by two Remie McIntosh aces, and sealed the set 25-8.

The third set saw Horn Lake briefly rally to within 7-5, but DeSoto Central used a combination of kills from Nehls and Weeks along with Horn Lake errors to pull away. Weeks ended the match with back-to-back aces for a 25-12 victory.

DeSoto Central head coach Margaret Falatko credited her team’s energy and execution.

“I thought we had really good energy. We did a lot of things well. We tried some things, we executed, and we served really well tonight,” Falatko said. “I was really impressed with what Horn Lake picked up in the back row. Their libero did a great job.”

Falatko said the early-season success is partly due to players adjusting to new roles.

“I’ve moved Genesis (Weeks) to the outside, and she’s doing a phenomenal job. Ellie (Nehls) is back from an injury and has been a big block for us,” Falatko said. “We’ve got some new faces in new positions, but they’ve bought in and really come together as a team.”

With seven seniors on the roster, Falatko believes the team has the experience to make a strong postseason push.

“A lot of those girls have been on varsity for a couple of years. They understand the pressure,” she said.

DeSoto Central returns to action Tuesday night at home against Tupelo.

Thursday, Aug. 14

Prep volleyball

• Olive Branch 3, Grenada 0 
• Lewisburg 3, Center Hill (25-23, 25-19, 25-20)
• DeSoto Central 3, Horn Lake 0 (25-15, 25-8, 25-12)
• Lake Cormorant 3, South Panola 0 (25-5, 25-7, 25-7)

Prep softball

• Magnolia Heights 8, Marshall Academy 3

SPORTS ETC.: In the Lewisburg volleyball victory over Center Hill,  Addison Cole led the Lady Patriots with 16 kills, hit .375, 15 assists, 9 digs, 2 aces. Gwen Tuffield and Kate Denman both had 6 kills and hit .235 and .294, respectively. Kamari Parker made 17 assists, and added 4 digs and 3 aces. Laney Wier made 12 digs and had 5 assists.