Mississippi isn’t exactly a hotbed for the sport of volleyball. While we can acknowledge Florida and Georgia as two southern states boasting top Nationally-ranked teams and developing volleyball talent from the region, the surrounding states in the South have generally lagged behind.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, more high school girls played volleyball than basketball for the first time in the 2015-16 season. And over the past few years, those numbers continue to rise.

In Mississippi, we’re also seeing growth in the sport. Athletics Directors across the state want to add female sports and realize that athletes have a real interest in girl’s volleyball. In the 2018-19 season, the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) listed 117 volleyball teams. A year later, 153 teams are preparing for the 2019 season in Mississippi.