BREWTON, Ala. — On Monday evening, the Pearl River volleyball team left Brewton, Ala. with a momentum-setting win over Coastal Alabama North before heading into region play. The Wildcats battled through two tight sets to pick up a 2-0 set lead before dropping the third set to the Coyotes. PRCC regrouped and won a convincing fourth set, 25-16, to secure the win, 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-16).

"This win was very important because it was crucial for us to come together and back in the swing of things," Pearl River head coach Haley Chatham said. 

SET ONE

During the first set, Pearl River (9-9 overall) used strong net play to keep Coastal Alabama - North (6-8) at bay. With the Wildcats up 8-6 in the first set, Natalie Bartholomew (Brandon) and Sammie Smith (Biloxi; D'Iberville) won three big points at the net to advance the PRCC lead to 11-8. A Jolie Gibson ace gave the Wildcats a 12-8 advantage. 

Coming out of a timeout, Addie McNeely (Brandon; Hartfield Academy) had an emphatic kill to push the Wildcats lead back to four, 14-10. 

The Coyotes tied the score, 15-15, but Peyton Hoffmayer (Ocean Springs) provided a big lift with a spike off a Coyote defender to give the Wildcats a lead, 16-15, they would not surrender.

With the Wildcats holding on to an 18-16 lead, Lillie Franks (Ocean Springs) won a 50-50 ball at the net to bring the lead to three, 19-16. Smith won the next point for PRCC, 20-16, to force a Coyote timeout. 

With the Wildcats holding a three-point advantage, Franks once again made her presence known, winning consecutive points at the net and giving PRCC a five-point advantage, 22-17. 

The Wildcats kept the lead and took set one, 25-21.

SET TWO

The Coyotes got on the scoreboard first, picking up the first two points for a 2-0 lead. Kills by Smith and Hoffmayer tied the game for PRCC, 3-3. Hoffmayer followed up with another kill down the line to give the Wildcats a 5-4 advantage. 

Coming out of a timeout, PRCC pushed the lead to four, 11-7. The Coyotes swung the momentum and tied the set and eventually took the lead, 16-15. Two service aces by Bartholomew gave the Wildcats the lead again, 17-16. Strong play at the net by Smith and McNeely and sharp serving by Jolie Gibson (Brandon) gave the Wildcats a five-point lead, 23-18. 

After the Coyotes closed the gap to three points, 23-20, Smith closed the set by winning two service points, including an ace to end the set, 25-20. 

SET THREE

The Coyotes used a seven-point run to break a 9-9 tie to take a 16-9 advantage. The Wildcats closed the Coyote lead to five after two strong defensive plays at the net, 20-15. 

Coastal Alabama–North held off a Wildcat charge with points by Bartholomew and Smith to win the third set, 25-19.

SET FOUR

Pearl River wasted little time building a lead on the Coyotes in set four. With the Wildcats up one, McNeely won a strong point at the net, 2-1. Behind the serving of Smith and McNeely and the net play of Bartholomew, PRCC built a four-point advantage, 6-2. 

The Coyotes closed the gap to two, 10-8, heading into a timeout. Gipson and Smith were able to convert serves for three points to push the Wildcat lead to five, 14-9. Hoffmayer again made her presence at the net felt with an emphatic kill to give PRCC a 17-10 lead. 

With the Wildcats lead cut to five, 19-14, Abbie Franks (Ocean Springs) won a crucial point to stop the Coyotes' momentum. Lillie Franks and Smith followed with a block on an attempted Coyote spike to push the Wildcat lead to seven, 21-14. Lillie Franks closed the door on the Coyotes, securing the final point to give the Wildcats a 25-16 victory. 

"Peyton and Lillie took advantage of their matchups and were able to put balls down during crucial points of the game," Chatham said. "Abbie was able to make great reads on their middles and see their blocks to hit between it."

NEXT UP

The Wildcats will travel to Booneville to play Northeast on Wednesday. The opening serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. The game will be livestreamed at nemcctv.com.

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