High school volleyball: Holcomb struggles early, but tops Southland

STEELE — When Southland High School middle hitter Kylie Walker put down a kill during the first set, the Rebels had a 14-9 lead.

That’s when Holcomb head coach Matt Casper called a timeout.

After that break in the action, Holcomb rallied to win the opener and eventually the match by scores of 25-20, 25-16, 25-10 in the Class 1 District 1 championship at South Pemiscot High School.

Holcomb�s Zilliah Privett (8) receives a serve while teammates Kaetlyn Danley (20) and Emma Bader (5) look on. The Hornets defeated the Rebels in straight sets, advancing to today�s sectional round. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

This marked the Hornets second straight district title, and the school’s fourth since 2018.

“Some people thought we wouldn’t make it that far,” Southland head coach Kenny Vangilder said of the Rebels’ performance in the district tournament. “My girls proved them wrong. We are proud.”

Vangilder also complimented Holcomb.

Southland's Jaden Taylor (left) and Chloe Hendrix of Holcomb contest for the ball at the net during the Class 1 District 1 tournament championship dated Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, in Steele.(Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

“Sometimes we felt the pressure, and didn’t react to it as we should have,” Vangilder noted. “We made some mistakes that cost us dearly. Holcomb saw weak spots, or mixed it up where they were sending the ball.”

Southland had a strong run in the district tournament, sweeping Delta C-7 and Cooter en route to finishing with a 13-14-2 season mark.

“Southland is a very scrappy team,” Casper stated. “They did a good job of working hard for every point, and playing sound defense. They made it tough on us.”

Holcomb's Lilyan Cantrell, Kaetlyn Danley and Emma Bader react after the Hornets earned match point during the Class 1 District 1 tournament championship at Steele dated Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Holcomb will play host to Bell City in a Class 1 sectional match today, with the first serve set for 6:30 p.m.

Holcomb pushed past Southland in the opening set by forcing the Rebels into bad passes while Zilliah Privett had a kill and Emma Bader scored on a point on a back-row attack.

The Hornets scored seven of the first eight points of the second set. Jaden Taylor put up an effective block to make the score Holcomb, 22-16. Then a Kaetlyn Danley ace and Maleigh Lemings kill closed out the set.

Southland's Cayson McCallister (8) digs the ball while teammate Sophia Galloway looks on during the Class 1 District 1 tournament championship on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, in Steele. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Southland unraveled in the third set as Chloe Hendrix and Landynn Hodges controlled the front row with ace blocks and kills. The match ended on a Rebel hitting error.

“I feel like our girls settled in during the second set, and picked up the pace in the third,” Casper said.

Casper said the Hornets have been though plenty of ups and downs this season, but the reward was seeing the senior group receive the state-shaped trophy from South Pemiscot athletic director Jason House.

Southland's Kenny Vangilder talks to his team during a timeout in the Class 1 District 1 championship match dated Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, in Steele.(Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Shayla Walker and Taylor played in their final scholastic matches. Shayla Walker finished with nine digs, seven assists and two aces. Taylor had 13 digs, five kills and two solo ace stuffs.

Cayson McAllister was tops in digs for Southland with 19. Kylie Walker compiled six kills, three ace blocks, nine digs and two ace serves. Sophia Galloway added five kills and 15 digs, Valeria Valdez nine digs and Melanie Resendez four digs.

Holcomb and Southland also met in a season-opening Tri-County Conference match back on Aug. 25, with the Hornets sweeping the Rebels in three hard-fought sets 25-20, 26-24, 28-26.

Privett,, Hendrix and Hodges all finished with 11 kills. Hodges also contributed two solo ace blocks.

Gabi Harmon contributed four ace serves. Ava Gurley — who also had four ace serves — and Danley joined forces for 33 assists. Lemings scooped up a Holcomb-best 14 digs.