The 2026 volleyball season for Jones County was one of glass ceilings being shattered, blasting through barriers that had previously been unbroken.
The Volley Hounds accolades include 30 wins, the program’s first tournament win of any type, a top-10 ranking at the end of the regular season, and a first-ever postseason appearance.
Unfortunately for Jones County, that list of accomplishments will not include a trip to the state tournament’s round of 16.
Saturday morning’s firstround match against Perry went down to the fifth and decisive set for Jones County, where Perry outlasted the Lady Hounds to win 16-14. Jones County won the first set 25-17 and the third 25-15 to get within one win of a matchclinching victory, but the Panthers stayed alive to win the fourth frame 25-19, getting in position to claim the fifth and decisive contest to end Jones County’s season at a record of 30-9.
“We still won more this year than the first three seasons combined. That’s something to be proud of,” Lady Greyhounds head coach Leah Bodnarhuk said. “I know some of them are really upset, but they can hold their heads really high. They accomplished something that had never been done before.”
Jones County, which was seeded seventh overall, gave itself an early edge, breaking out of a 12-12 tie in the first game before leading 21-17 and 24-17. A kill by Becca Durrett sealed a 25-17 win.
The visiting Panthers, who lost to JCHS in a late-season contest, were not rattled. Taking a 13-8 lead, Perry withstood a rally by Jones County, which trailed 23-19 by way of a Durrett block. The Lady Hounds got within a point, behind 23-22 on a Zakeena Sturgeon serve before the Panthers scored the match’s final three points to win 25-22.
The third game continued to have both teams unable to get much separation. A 10-8 JCHS lead was the first lead of more than one point of that third game for either side, but the Lady Hounds grew that advantage to 16-11 and then 17-12 thanks to strong at-net play by Jayda Round. Molly Jo Register was at the serve for the game’s final two points as Jones County won 25-15, getting it within one win of advancing.
Perry, however, prevented that. That was partially due to the Volley Hounds not being able to get as many multi-point scoring runs that had at times been their trademark during the season in taking firm control of matches.
Jones County led 8-6 before Perry equalized things at 9-9 and went on a 6-2 run to go up 15-11. A point by Isabella Bodnarchuck helped the Lady Hounds stay close, down 19-15, but the Lady Hounds got no closer, forcing the fifth game.
Jones County led early, going up 5-3 with Durrett at the serve and 7-5 with Bodnarchuk following likewise. That’s when the Panthers went on a match-altering run, outscoring JCHS 5-2 to go in front 10-8. It was just enough of a margin in the end that would be barely too much for the Lady Hounds to overcome. Jones County evened things at 13-13 and again 14-14, but those clusters of points ended up being enough for Perry to get in better position to win, breaking the tie to win 16-14. The Volley Hounds’ season ended earlier than envisioned, touching off mixed emotions of both gratefulness and disappointment.
“It’s amazing. A lot of people didn’t really even know volleyball existed here. I am very, very proud of this team,” Bodnarchuk said. “Am I happy? No. But as a coach, coming into a sport that was foreign to me, they trusted each other, trusted me, and really worked their tails off. I could not be prouder of them.”
Jones County loses five seniors, but the roster will be hardly void of returning talent next fall as Graci Garey, Register, and Durett are leading returners.
“Jones County volleyball has definitely evolved through the years. This group of girls has made it happen. They are just a great group, especially our seniors. They have battled from being on ninth grade, JV, and varsity together,” Bodnarchuk said. “They have helped this team grow together and into being friends and supporting each other.
“That’s why it hurts so bad that it’s ended for them because we really felt like they would go further.”
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