SENATOBIA - After an unconventional, yet exciting, inaugural season for the Northwest volleyball program, head coach Allison Burchyett and the Lady Rangers are gearing up for Year Two with the release of the 2021 regular season slate.

This year's schedule is chock full of matches played across the map, including the August 26 season opener at Lake Sumter State in Leesburg, Fla. From there, Northwest will spend the season traveling to Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois and Tennessee, as well as several matches against in-state opponents Itawamba, Pearl River, Millsaps and MUW.

Several tournaments and neutral-site matches also dot the Lady Rangers' schedule, including tournaments at Bishop State and ICC, along with round robin matches at Henderson State, Shawnee and Coastal Alabama-East, among others.

Northwest won't open the home portion of its schedule until Tuesday, October 5 against Itawamba, but the Lady Rangers will play seven of its last eight regular season matches within the friendly confines of Howard Coliseum.

Northwest finished with a 6-12 overall record last season, which was moved from 2020 to spring 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Lady Rangers notched victories against Coastal Alabama-East, Bevill State and Itawamba, falling one win shy of advancing to the NJCAA Region 8 Tournament after forcing a tiebreaker against the Lady Indians last March.

Several familiar faces return for the Lady Rangers, including kill leaders Kapria Manning (126) and Julissa Soto (120). Manning also led the team with 180 assists, along with returner Alexia Davis (178), while digs leader Kamryn Conner (268) will also return for another season.

Other key returners include blocks leader Chariah Mabry and starters India Jeffries and Sydney Sides.

Additionally, the Lady Rangers also welcome a stacked signing class that includes DeSoto County standouts Jaclyn Carter, Kayla Beal, Brinley Steed, Pontotoc standout De'Aisha Browner, Ripley's Lexi Page and Daphne, Ala. freshman Lia Ramos.

All home contests will be carried on nwccrangers.com/watch, with select road matches also carried live when available.