From Class 1A to Class 7A, the “Southern Six” is well-represented in the Mississippi high school volleyball playoffs.
Classes 1A through 4A are set to begin on Saturday while the larger classes have to wait until Tuesday, Oct. 10, to get things started.
In 1A, Resurrection will host McAdams at 2 p.m. in Pascagoula. The Lady Eagles come into the match with a 13-9 record while the Lady Bulldogs are 5-10.
In 3A, Our Lady Academy begins another possible state championship run at home against a 3-9 Magee squad. The Crescents completed an impressive regular season at 37-3. Their match tips off at 11 a.m. in Bay St. Louis.
St. Patrick hopes to get one more shot at OLA in a possible South State match but first will open at home in Biloxi against McLaurin. The Lady Irish are 18-5 while the Lady Tigers are 9-12. The match begins at 1 p.m.
Class 4A finds Poplarville and Bay High opening at home while Pass Christian and Greene County are on the road. The Lady Hornets, who completed the regular season at 18-3, tip off against the Lady Rangers (3-14) at 5 p.m. Bay High (11-22) is set to host Raymond (4-10) at 6 p.m. Pass Christian (11-15) heads to McComb (9-13) for a 6 p.m. match. Greene County (8-11) will play at Jackson Lanier (11-7-1).
Saturday’s winners advance to second-round action on Tuesday.
The three largest classifications get first-round action going on Tuesday.
In 7A, Ocean Springs and Gulfport will be at home while Biloxi and D’Iberville will be on the road. The Lady Greyhounds (26-6) host Petal (13-6) at 6 p.m. and Biloxi
(16-8) travels to Oak Grove (21-11) for a 6 p.m. match, with the winners of this side of the bracket facing each other on Thursday,Oct.12.
The other side of the bracket has Gulfport hosting Northwest Rankin at 6 p.m. The Lady Admirals come into the match at 29-5 while the Lady Cougars are 13-16.
D’Iberville (10-13) opens at 7A favorite Brandon (34-4). The match begins at 5 p.m.
Class 6A has the only first-round matchup between two “Southern Six” squads as Pearl River Central (10-11) hosts West Harrison (18-12) in Carriere at 6:30 p.m. A victory will set up a meeting against the Hancock-Terry winner.
The Lady Hawks come in with a 30-8 record while the Lady Bulldogs are 13-8. The match in Kiln starts at 6 p.m. Long Beach (11-8) will be at home against Hattiesburg (10-16). George County and West Jones wrap up that side of the bracket as the Lady Mustangs (15-14) play the Lady Rebels (8-12) in Soso at 6 p.m.
Class 5A opens with East Central and Vancleave at home and on opposite sides of the bracket.
The Lady Hornets (20-14) host Natchez (6-11) while Vancleave plays Florence at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Bulldogs ended the regular season at 15-11 while the Lady Eagles finished at 7-16. Gautier or Brookhaven will play the winner of the East Central match as the Lady Gators (14-11) travel to take on the Lady Panthers (7-13) at 6 p.m. Stone (6-11) will go to Ellisville to take on South Jones (13-4), with the winner facing Florence or Vancleave.
State champions will be crowned on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20. The finals will be played on the Ole Miss campus.
