FULTON, Miss. — The Pearl River volleyball team had several reasons to celebrate Wednesday night after its 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 26-24) sweep of MACCC foe Itawamba.
Not only was it PRCC's 10th consecutive win, but it also clinched hosting rights for the Oct. 27-28 Region 23 Tournament.
"I'm proud of this team for continuing to stay the course," head coach Haley Chatham said. "It's not easy to come together and fight your way out of a little midseason hole, but they are doing it because they are can-do kids who can overcome and find success. That makes me a happy coach because I know they can continue that long after their time at The River. I love to see it.
"We are happy to win the hosting right, but we know we have work to do to turn around and play all these teams again. Our goal is to do more, every set, and that's what it will take to get through the Region Tournament."
As if the night couldn't get any more special, Pearl River outside hitter Natalie Bartholomew (Brandon) moved ahead of former Wildcat star Diamond Jones in both single-season and career kills in the very first set of the night.
"Natalie Bartholomew blows me away. Her ability to lead others to success directly impacts her own awesome achievements, and her taking this program record is a great example of that," Chatham said. "She is here to help everybody win. She puts herself second and her team first. Look at what she has achieved in doing so. We are so blessed to have Natalie in the history books and as a Wildcat forever.
"Diamond had such a significant role in putting this program on the map during its infancy, and she is very near to my heart," Chatham added on her former record holder. "Natalie has played the same role, and it's fitting for her to be the one who holds the new record. Natalie would be the first to say that she could never have reached these heights without this special team surrounding her."
MATCH RECAP
Itawamba (15-16 overall; 2-4 Region 23) jumped out to an early 5-2 advantage in the first set of the day, but a pair of net violations by the Indians pulled the Wildcats (21-12; 6-1) back within one, 6-5.
Bartholomew entered the match moments later and instantly made her presence known. While chasing a pair of records, the sophomore fired a kill off the hands of an ICC block attempt and out of bounds. On the very next rally, she smashed down another kill. Itawamba briefly broke up the run to square things up at 7-7, but Bartholomew made history one play later. Jolee Gibson (Brandon) set the ball up perfectly, and the forceful right hand of Bartholomew crushed a ball off the fingertips of an Indian player and down onto the court in front of a diving ICC setter for the record-setting 739th kill of her Pearl River career, 8-7.
Sammie Smith (D'Iberville) struck for three kills throughout the middle portion of the set to move Pearl River ahead 16-12. Bartholomew picked up a trio of kills in the following points, and Peyton Hoffmayer (Ocean Springs) added in one to stretch the Wildcat lead to 20-15.
Bartholomew kept up her historic performance soon after. In nearly identical fashion to her record-setting third kill, Gibson set the ball up for Bartholomew, who sent a laser off the fingertips of a block attempt. When the ball made it to another ICC player, she couldn't handle it, resulting in Bartholomew's 385th kill of the season — a new single-season record.
Abbie Franks (Ocean Springs) ended the set shortly after, sending a kill down onto the floor, 25-21.
PRCC took the lead on the back of Lauren McLamore's (Brandon) stellar serving in set two, going ahead 5-4. The lead was one that the Wildcats didn't relinquish as they cruised out to a seven-point, 15-8 advantage. Pearl River used the momentum to run away with a 25-17 victory in the second set.
Pearl River fell in a hole to begin the third set as the Indians grabbed a quick 6-2 advantage. Following a Bartholomew kill to get the serve back to PRCC, McLamore delivered a pair of serves that buckled midway through and fell in for aces to even the score, 6-6.
Smith delivered a huge kill midway through the set, leaping and extending to smash it down onto the court, 13-9. The Wildcats took a 19-12 lead when the Indians sent a ball off the antenna.
A while later, Pearl River again took a seven-point lead as Smith dropped a soft-touch kill between a trio of Itawamba players, 23-16. PRCC briefly grew the lead to the largest margin of the set at 24-16, but the Indians replied with an impressive eight-point run to square up the match at 24 apiece.
A ball that bounced off an ICC player and back across the net was finished off by freshman middle blocker Madi King (Leakesville; Greene County) to snatch the lead right back. On the following rally, the Indians sent a kill attempt beyond the backline to give PRCC the 26-24 victory.
UP NEXT
Pearl River will have one final tune-up match on Wednesday at Louisiana Christian. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m.
REGION 23 TOURNAMENT
More information about the Region 23 Tournament will be available soon. Visit PRCCAthletics.com for updates.
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