Seven squads in the Southern Six played last weekend in the second annual Mississippi Volleyball Invitational, a two-day, 32-team tournament in Jackson to tip off the high school season.
The defending Class 3A state champion OLA Crescents set the tone as they proved once again that they are ready to make a run at yet another title. OLA finished the weekend 6-1, falling to 7A state runner-up Brandon in the gold bracket championship match on Saturday.
The Lady Bulldogs claimed the title by winning 19-17 in the third set. The Crescents defeated Pearl, Belmont and Clinton in pool play on Friday before taking down 7A powers Oak Grove and Madison Central to set up a semifinal matchup with Ocean Springs. A two-set victory over the Lady Greyhounds sent OLA to the championship.
The loss to OLA ended a 4-2 tournament for Ocean Springs with the losses coming to Brandon and OLA. The Lady Greyhounds defeated Pass High and Ridgeland in pool play before taking down Belmont in bracket play to set up a matchup with Region 4-7A rival Gulfport. Ocean Springs took the third set 15-10 to advance to the semifinal matchup against OLA.
Gulfport finished the weekend 4-1 as the Lady Admirals swept through pool play with wins over Germantown, Columbus and DeSoto Central. A bracket win over Northwest Rankin set up the matchup against Ocean Springs.
The Lady Admirals and the Lady Greyhounds will meet in region play on Aug. 28 at Ocean Springs and on Sept. 17 in Gulfport.
Class 6A runner-up Hancock also advanced to the gold bracket, defeating Tupelo and Lanier while falling to Lewisburg. Bracket play for the Lady Hawks began with a win over Amory and tournament champion Brandon eliminated Hancock in the second round. The Lady Hawks finished the weekend 3-2.
Hancock opens up the defense of its Region 4-6A championship on Aug. 27 at George County in a rematch of last year’s South State finals.
Bay High, Pass High and West Harrison all played in the silver bracket after pool play. Pass High finished 1-4 with tough pool play losses to Brandon and Ocean Springs while the Lady Pirates picked up a win over Ridgeland. Class 7A Tupelo eliminated the Lady Pirates in bracket play.
Pass High division rival Bay High also finished 1-4. The Lady Tigers lost to Oak Grove, Oxford and last year’s 3A runner-up, Alcorn Central, in pool play. Alcorn Central eliminated the Lady Tigers in the second round of bracket play after Bay High’s win over Lanier.
In Region 8-4A play, Bay High and Pass High will meet on Aug. 27 in Bay St. Louis and at Pass Christian on Sept. 12.
West Harrison dropped four matches in the tournament, losing to Amory, Starkville and St. Andrew’s in pool play and 7A Pearl in three sets in bracket play.
After playing in the tournament, the Lady Hurricanes hosted St. Patrick on Monday with both teams seeking their first win. Tuesday’s schedule included other notable non-division matchups: Vancleave at OLA, George County at Gulfport and Resurrection at Pascagoula.
Thursday night finds Long Beach at Pass High, Vancleave at Jackson County rival St. Martin and Stone High traveling down Highway 49 to take on Harrison Central.
