SENATOBIA - 2024 was arguably the best year in the brief history of the Northwest volleyball program.  Coach Allison Burchyett's squad won more than 20 matches for the second year in a row and won the first MACCC title ever awarded, falling just short of the Region 23 tournament title.  The Rangers were a perfect 10 - 0 at home during the regular season and had five All-MACCC performers in Rachel Stegall, Maddie Smith, Kaya Coleman, Layla Dyer, and Anna Lott.  Stegall was also recognized on the All-Region team following the season.  The sophomores from that squad won 53 total matches.  Four of those ladies-Coleman, Lott, Stegall, and Ally Grimes-signed with four-year schools to continue playing at the next level.

When asked about that squad's achievements, Coach Burchyett gave all of the praise to her players.  "I attribute our awesome success last year to great sophomore leadership and freshmen that bought into our team-first culture.  It is a challenge every season when we move a great group on and bring in the next one. Recruiting great humans as well as great volleyball players helps immensely."  

Looking forward to the 2025 season, which begins today with the first exhibition matches of the new year, Burchyett plans to rely on a core group of sophomores to set the tone.  "Our sophomore group consists of players that played a considerable amount last year. That will bring confidence and an understanding of what is necessary to be successful."  That group, highlighted by second team All-MACCC performer Smith, is filled with veterans who logged over 30 matches played last year.  Aven Mathis, Claire Roberts, Sailor Cole and Ava Robbins were all involved in action throughout the season.  Daylin Johnson, though limited early in the 2024 season, and Saylor Bryant, who redshirted as a freshman, were also both heavily involved in building the culture of family that the program thrives on. 

When asked about her expectations from her freshmen, Burchyett gets a little excited.  "Our freshmen group contains many state champions - some from multiple years. Bringing them together as a unit is the goal and having them play hard for each other is our daily desire."  There are, in fact, thirteen state championships between the newcomers.  The trio of Jania Rose, Ariana Woods, and Dallas White were all members of Lake Cormorant"s back-to-back-to-back run, while Hassie Clare Thurman was part of Northpoint Christian's TSSAA title run last year.  Add in Chloe Rodriguez' three titles at Brookland (Jonesboro, Ark.), and it is easy to see what gets Burchyett so excited. Considering the remainder of the class is made up of all-conference/all-star/all-state performers like Chloe Fesperman, Adalyn Callahan, Reese McIntosh, and Talley Taylor, and it is easy to see the group's potential.  

Bringing the team together to play hard for each other has proven to be one of Burchyett and assistant coach David Culver's specialties.  "Our preseason has been jam packed with many fun activities, meals, games, and tons of practice and conditioning.  We plan to play hard defensively this season and be balanced offensively. It will be hard to replace a talented setter like Layla, who holds multiple setting records for Northwest, but I know the trio of Saylor, Dallas, and Chloe (Rodriguez) will all work hard to lead us in a balanced attack."  The ladies have selected team captains based on the work and leadership each has put in during camp. Captains selected by the team for the 2025 season are Maddie Smith, Sailor Cole, and Ariana Woods.

The Rangers have one exhibition tri-match scheduled for today, beginning at 12:00 P.M.  Burchyett expects to spend those matches and a good portion of the early season to "work different lineups to see who handles pressure well and to see who works the best together."  After that, the squad will be off and running with a full slate of matches across four states.  Several tournaments highlight the schedule starting with the Mississippi/Alabama Crossover Tournament in Fulton (8/22-23).  The Rangers will also participate in tournaments at Shawnee (Ullin, Ill., 8/29-30) and at the Alabama Gulf Coast Classic (Gulf Shores, Ala., 10/3-4).  Burchyett hopes to use those tournaments to develop a post-season mindset.

The conference schedule, much like last year, will be highlighted by several new opponents.  East Central, Southwest, and Gulf Coast each begin programs in 2025, bringing the total number of conference members to nine.  Burchyett, who played a big part in the expansion of high school volleyball in the state, is excited to see the growth now at the community college level.  "Volleyball is one of the fastest growing sports not only in Mississippi, but also throughout the country. It is only fitting that we have now expanded to nine teams playing in the MACCC." 

Northwest hosts its first exhibition matches today against Jackson State (Tenn.) and Williams Baptist University.  The Rangers begin the regular-season schedule on Friday, August 21 against Calhoun (Ala.) at the Mississippi/Alabama crossover tournament in Fulton.  The first regular-season home match in Howard Coliseum is a scheduled tri-match with Chattanooga State (Tenn.) and Shawnee (Ill.) on Monday, August 25, beginning at 1:00 P.M.  Coverage for all home matches will be available on RangerTV.