COLUMBUS, Miss. — The early portion of the 2023 season has been full of challenges for the Pearl River volleyball, but the Wildcats continue to be up to the test. With a shorthanded bench, PRCC fought back from an early deficit to defeat Mississippi University for Women 3-2 (23-25, 25-13, 25-21, 14-25, 15-6).

"All four matches have been very different — each bringing a new set of challenges," head coach Haley Chatham said. "Today's challenge was missing our starting setter and middle blocker. This team came with a heck of a will to make it a fifth set and completely control it. I'm proud of their effort today."

HOW IT HAPPENED
Pearl River (4-0 overall) knew it was in for a battle right from the start as the first set of the day went back and forth for the very beginning.

The Wildcats finally moved ahead by two points, 11-9, when Madison Butler (Biloxi; D'Iberville) perfectly placed an ace in the back right corner of the court. The ace seemed to send Pearl River on a surge as they sailed ahead 17-12 after a vicious kill off the hand of Peyton Hoffmayer (Ocean Springs).

The Owls continued to fight as they fought back to square up the match at 19-19. The Wildcats briefly retook the lead, but the momentum switch was too much to overcome as MUW won the set 25-23.

PRCC's D'Iberville products were huge in the early portion of the second set of the day. Sammie Smith (Biloxi; D'Iberville) was responsible for the first point when she sent a booming kill onto the opponent's side of the court. A few points later, Smith chipped in with an ace. Butler joined the action shortly after when acted like she was going to set up a kill attempt but instead tipped the ball over and onto the court to make the score 5-2.

Abbie Franks (Ocean Springs) and Hoffmayer combined for a block midway through the set to move the Wildcats out to a six-point 13-7 lead. Pearl River then stretched out its lead to 20-9 with the help of a kill from Madi King (Leakesville; Greene County).

PRCC eventually put an end to the contest, 25-13. 

It was another tightly contested third set as the teams were deadlocked at 6-6. Midway through the set, Hoffmayer pushed the Pearl River advantage to 16-14 on a Hoffmayer kill.

A miscue by the Owls fueled a nice run by the Wildcats as they pulled ahead and won set three 25-21.

The fourth set of the evening was all Owls as they stormed out to a 12-5 advantage. The momentum gained in the early portion of the set helped MUW snatch victory in the set 25-14. 

Mississippi University for Women came out of the gate hot in set five as they took an early 3-0 advantage. PRCC battled back to take the lead 5-4 thanks to a Natalie Bartholomew (Brandon) kill. Pearl River kept fighting, putting the set to rest, 15-6. 

PROVIDING A SPARK 
Chatham was proud of how her true freshman, King, played on the day. 

"Madi King came in and filled a hole exactly the way we needed her to," Chatham said. "She's so smart and uses blocker's hands to score points. She told me after the match that she feels herself getting faster on reads. She is, and she's on the right track to become an asset in the lineup."

Chatham also highlighted the play of Lillie Franks (Ocean Springs) and Delaney Sisson (Auburn, Ala.)

"Lillie came up with some nice kills in make-or-break moments," she said. "Delaney kept the court moving and did a good job of matching up her hitters."

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