The opening set was one to forget — but everything that followed was unforgettable for the Pearl River volleyball team.
Pearl River rebounded from a gut punch 25-10 set one loss to take down Northwest in a five-set marathon Friday night, 3-2 (10-25, 25-21, 26-24, 20-25, 18-16). The victory sends the Wildcats to the Region 23 Championship match Sunday at 2 p.m. against rival Jones College.
Tickets for the Championship match can be purchased at JCBobcats.com/tickets. The match will be livestreamed at JCBobcats.com/watch.
"After set one, we talked about responding, the bounce back we've had all season, getting rid of the panic button and not letting one set define the match," head coach Haley Chatham said. "This group has worked all year on composure and grit and that showed tonight. I couldn't be prouder of how they battled back point by point and found a way to win.
"These girls have earned every bit of this opportunity to play for a title. We've talked all season about putting ourselves in a position to compete for a championship, and now we get that chance. It's special for our program, our fans and everyone who has believed in what we're building here at Pearl River."
Not only did the victory give the Wildcats a chance to play for a title, but it also was the program's 28th of the season — the most in program history.
"Breaking the wins record says so much about this group's consistency, toughness and commitment to getting better every single day," Chatham said. "Half of this team didn't have a stellar season last year, but they stuck it out — and now those same kids have set a new standard for Pearl River volleyball. To do it with this group — their chemistry, their love for each other, their belief — makes it even more meaningful. We're not done yet, tomorrow's another chance to make history."
After being overwhelmed in the opener, PRCC flipped the momentum quickly in set two. The Wildcats made it 20-16 behind a clever fake set from Claire Smith (Coldwater; Lewisburg) and a kill by Avery Wheat (Gonzales, La.; East Ascension). Another quick run extended the advantage to 21-16 before a kill and a block by Willett sealed the 25-21 win, evening the match at one set apiece.
The Wildcats carried that energy into the third, jumping ahead early and staying in control through most of the frame. Northwest stayed close and eventually grabbed a 16-15 lead, but the Wildcats answered immediately. The Rangers later went up 24-22, forcing PRCC into do-or-die mode — and once again, Willett came through in the clutch. The freshman ripped back-to-back kills off a block and out of play to even things up at 24-all. Northwest fired its next attack into the net to put PRCC on set point, and Willett hammered home another thunderous kill to finish off the 26-24 victory.
Set four appeared to be all Pearl River at the start. The Wildcats came out on fire, rattling off eight of the first nine points behind strong serving and an aggressive attack, taking an 8-1 lead. Unfortunately for PRCC, the Rangers didn't flinch. They slowly chipped away, tying the set midway through and eventually overtaking the Wildcats down the stretch to steal the frame 25-20 and force a decisive fifth.
The final set was a fitting end to a wild night. Neither team could pull away early as they traded points back and forth. PRCC found a spark midway through when Olivia Shirley (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove) smashed a ball down the left sideline, followed by a Smith flip over the net that dropped perfectly to make it 11-7. Northwest refused to go away, tying the set five different times before the Wildcats finally outlasted the Rangers 18-16, sealing the match on a Northwest miscue.
"Liv was huge for us tonight. She came in confident, played fearless and gave us a spark exactly when we needed it," Chatham said. "That's what makes this group so fun to coach — any player can step up on any night. Her preparation and attitude have been steady lately, and she absolutely earned that moment."
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