POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The Region 23 Champion Pearl River volleyball team recently announced that a trio of athletes have found their four-year homes.
Sammie Smith (Biloxi; D’Iberville) and Natalie Bartholomew (Brandon) are headed to Blue Mountain College, while Delaney Sisson (Auburn, Ala.) takes her talents to Bryan College.
“Delaney, Natalie and Sammie have been instrumental leaders in establishing and maintaining our team’s cohesiveness during their time at The River,” head coach Haley Chatham said. “I can’t say enough about their impact on our program with their maturity, can-do mentalities and ability to lead with positivity. All three were major contributors to our success over the last two seasons.
“I will always cherish my time with these girls, and I am so proud of their individual and collective accomplishments. They have what it takes to be difference makers, and I can’t wait to see their futures unfold.”
NATALIE BARTHOLOMEW
Bartholomew exits Pearl River as one of the best offensive players in the program’s history, leaving her legacy throughout the PRCC records book. In the career marks, she is first in kills (824), fourth in digs (474), fifth in aces (77) and 13th in total blocks (51).
In single-season records, Bartholomew is first and fourth in kills (466 and 358), fifth and seventh in digs (314 and 285), sixth in aces (43) and third and fifth in kills per set (3.21 and 2.80).
“Natalie is an overcomer and a boss. She is fearless and faces every challenge head-on at full speed,” Chatham said. “The girl just doesn’t quit — she plays and lives like failure is not an option. She arrived here as the youngest player on the roster but quickly gained the confidence of our entire team. She consistently proved herself to be rock solid as a six-rotation outside hitter, always delivering high-level play, even going on to break offensive program records.
“Natalie sets herself apart because she is naturally gifted and puts in the time and work to add to her God-given gifts. Those attributes, plus her tremendous leadership and personality qualities, make her an exceptional player and person. She leaves behind big shoes to fill. I am thrilled to see all the good things coming her way.”
SAMMIE SMITH
Smith also leaves quite a legacy behind at The River. She ranks third all-time in career kills with 639 and sixth in career digs with 460. Her 56 career aces and 120 career blocks place eighth and fourth, respectively.
Smith’s 406 kills in the 2023 season trail only her teammate, Bartholomew, for the single-season record. She added in 285 digs — good enough for seventh most in a single season. The sophomore registered 69 block assists in 2023, which places her at third in a single season. Smith is tied for first with an incredible 28 kills in a single match.
“I’ve known Sammie since she was 15 years old. She showed up to my club’s training academy program, and I immediately knew she was a special kid,” Chatham said. “Her intensity, self-motivation and incredible athletic talents were instantly obvious. As our season progressed, Sammie demonstrated amazing character qualities that make her an exemplary teammate and a dream to coach.
“She is a power hitter who became a go-to for us offensively, and she trained so hard to become a dominant blocker during her time here. Sammie, at 20 years old, plays with the excitement of a little kid when she’s on the court — you can’t help but be excited for her and with her. She really knows how to bring a team together. We are going to miss everything about Samime, but we can’t wait to see her succeed moving forward.”
DELANEY SISSON
Sisson proved to be one of the top setters in Pearl River volleyball’s history, ranking fourth in career assists with 652. Her 256 career digs are 13th most.
She’s also scattered throughout the single-season and single-match records. She picked up 476 assists in 2023, which ranks fifth all-time. Her 205 digs on the year were the 16th most in program history. She also has one of the best single-match showings in assists, tying for 10th with 25.
“Delaney stepped up for us in a huge way this season, solidifying her role as a permanent setter and playmaker in every match,” Chatham said. “Delaney sees the opponent’s defense really well and makes smart, quick decisions in running players for her hitters. Delaney grew up in a household where athletics were put at a premium, and the evidence of that upbringing was on immediate display when she came to The River. She has a super high volleyball IQ and is a vocal player who finds ways to coach her teammates up — mid-action on the court. Both of those are supreme qualities, especially when it comes to a player in her position.
“Delaney was our only out-of-state player on the roster during the 2023 season. She probably spent the most time on campus after the season, but during that time, she still found ways to contribute to our program. She is always the first to volunteer to welcome prospective players to campus and has essentially become a great recruiter for us over the last two seasons. She’s leaving her mark on Pearl River volleyball, and we are so thankful to have her as a Wildcat forever.”
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