Neshoba Central ready to start first volleyball season on Monday

Neshoba Central’s first volleyball season gets under way next week with three matches.

The Lady Rockets’ schedule has them visiting Nanih Waiya on Monday while hosting Noxapater on Tuesday and West Lauderdale on Thursday. Home games will be played in the school gym.

Coach Zach Sanders and his team are learning a new sport during the coronavirus pandemic. They had practices during the summer but have not played another team. They began training for the season last Monday.

“We have been working on it everyday,” Sanders said. “We all have a lot to learn with new terminology and how to play the game.”

The first team to reach 25 points wins. You have to win a game by two points, and it is best two out of three games to win the match.

“They have shortened the season,” Sanders said. “With less games, I am trying to see if it can be best three-out-of-five so we can get more game time in.”

There are six players per team on the court at one time. They rotate positions. Sanders said teams are allowed 18 substitutions which gives a coach different options.

“We will have our starters,” Sanders said. “And then we will have girls who specialize at a position who can come in a certain times.”

Sanders said he will have a varsity team and a junior varsity team. The junior team will play some games.

Members of the team are:

Seniors: Onnahili Williams, Reese Page, Shante Beaulieu and Ahlyric Ben; Juniors: Laurel Richmond, Heather Nicholson, Allie Williams, Layana Morris, Daylynn Mingo, KenDesini Wallace, Jasmine Schnacky, Annalise Bell, Denise Denson, Heaven Dixon and Hama’ya Fielder; Sophomores: Rodezah Smith, Angel Clemmons, Nautica Bacon, Mateya Dixon and Erin Henry; Freshmen: Sa’Nya Jackson, Mya Willis, Erica Lyons, Chloe Thompson, Jayla Edwards, Savannah Ketcher, Jaylen Sisson, Ella Adams, C’anna Harrington and Dakota Williamson.