As we approach the South State championship round in the prep volleyball state playoffs in all seven classifications, six “Southern Six” squads are still alive with a chance to advance to the overall state finals. Meanwhile, seven teams in our coverage area fell Thursday night in the South State Semifinal round and saw their seasons end with losses. All seven South State championship games will take place Monday night, with the winners of those matches moving on to The University of Mississippi in Oxford for the overall state finals next Thursday and Friday. Although there are six squads in the “Southern Six” still standing, the most teams in our coverage area that can possibly make the state finals is four because both the Class 3A and Class 6A South State finals feature a pair of teams in our coverage area as OLA hosts St. Patrick in Class 3A and Hancock hosts George County in Class 6A. The Lady Rebels upset Long Beach in action Thursday night in what was their first-ever home playoff match. In other meetings Monday night, Ocean Springs travels to Brandon in the Class 7A South State finals while in Class 5A East Central heads to Ellisville to face South Jones in Class 5A. There are no squads from the “Southrn Six” remaining in Class 1A or Class 4A.
MHSAA Volleyball Playoffs
THIRD ROUND
CLASS 7A
Thursday’s Scores
Lewisburg 3, Madison Central 2
DeSoto Central 3, Germantown 2
Brandon 3, Northwest Rankin 0
Ocean Springs 3, Biloxi 0
CLASS 6A
Thursday’s Scores
Lake Cormorant 3, Saltillo 0
Neshoba Central 3, Center Hill 2
George County 3, Long Beach 2
Hancock 3, West Harrison 0
CLASS 5A
Thursday’s Scores
Lafayette 3, Pontotoc 0
New Hope 3, Corinth 0
South Jones 3, Vancleave 0
East Central 3, Gautier 0
CLASS 4A
Thursday’s Scores
Newton County 3, Caledonia 0
NE Lauderdale 3, New Albany 2
Sumrall 3, Poplarville 2
CLASS 3A
Thursday’s Scores
Alcorn Central 3, Mooreville 0
Belmont 3, Kossuth 0
St. Patrick 3, West Marion 0
OLA 3, SE Lauderdale 0
CLASS 2A
Thursday’s Scores
Walnut 3, East Union 0
Ingomar 3, Union 0
Lake 3, Puckett 0
St. Andrew’s 3, Clarkdale 0
CLASS 1A
Thursday
Hickory Flat 3, Tupelo Christian 2
Pine Grove 3, Smithville 1
Stringer 3, East Marion 1
Noxapater 3, Resurrection 2
SEMIFINAL ROUND
CLASS 7A
Monday
DeSoto Central at Lewisburg
Ocean Springs at Brandon
CLASS 6A
Neshoba Central at Lake Cormorant
George County at Hancock
CLASS 5A
New Hope at Lafayette
East Central at South Jones
CLASS 4A
Newton County at NE Lauderdale
Sumrall at Purvis
CLASS 3A
Belmont at Alcorn Central
St. Patrick at OLA
CLASS 2A
Ingomar at Walnut
St. Andrew’s at Lake
CLASS 1A
Hickory Flat at Pine Grove
Stringer at Noxapater