VOLLEY HOUNDS
Volley Hounds get historic win against Mary Persons
A few weeks ago during Jones County’s media day, a stated goal for the Volley Hounds seniors was to do something they had not yet done since playing their first match in 2020 – beat Mary Persons.
With last week’s three-game sweep, that milestone was crossed for Jones County and a senior class that up to that point had been on the losing end of the matches against the Bulldogs.
That changed last Tuesday with wins of 26-24, 25-18 and 25-15.
“This was a goal of theirs; this is historic. Our seniors had never beaten Mary Persons, so I’m proud of them. It was a long and enduring match,” Lady Greyhounds head coach Kim Hanner said. “What I’m most proud of is how they worked together, built each other up and picked each other up when they needed it. They’re coming together so much as a team.”
The tone for the overall win was set early. After a back and forth go of it in the first game, the Lady Hounds rallied from being down 15-13 to lead 19-15, getting six points in a row off serves putting pressure on Mary Persons from Lyndsie Hanner. Then, with the score tied at 19-19, four points in a row off serves from Nya Warren drew JCHS close to the win. Mary Persons rallied, but it would be a combo of a strong back line and play near the net that got the win. Coming off a serve by Kamryn Hardwick, a Georgia Anderson kill won it 26-24.
“I was very proud of their serving. A few of them got really hot,” Hanner said. “We’ve been working hard in practice on placing their serves. They’re working together on picking out their spots.”
The Volley Hounds kept the pressure up going forward, inching to a 21-15 win in the second game to win 25-18 before picking up a 25-15 win in the third game for a 3-0 win.
“We kept talking about keeping the energy up and finishing strong,” Hanner said.
Jones County swept the JV match as well, winning 25-21 and 25-18.
Jones County plays Thursday at Veterans against Perry and Veterans and goes to Lamar County on Aug. 29.
