CLINTON – In the biggest games, sports have a way of delivering instant classics — the kind that nobody forgets, whether they were in the stands or on the floor.
Nothing could be truer than what unfolded Thursday afternoon in Clinton.
The ball hit the floor, and for a split second, everything froze.
But the whistle blew delivering the game point for the Sumrall girls volleyball team, and then came the screams – a defining roar from a sea of blue and gold as Sumrall players dogpiled. Tears, screaming and smiles and in that moment the Bobcats were champions, and history belonged to them.
In its first appearance in the Class 5A state championship, Sumrall outlasted defending champion Lafayette County in a heart-pounding five-set thriller, 3-2 (25-20, 25-13, 20-25, 22-25, 15-13), to capture the program’s first volleyball state title.
What began as a runaway, dominating performance by the Bobcats turned into which team could deliver the last blow, and it was Sumrall. The team, who is built upon youth and poise, hoisted the gold volleyball at the end, while the Lady Commodores who battled hard, came up just short.
“We made history,” Sumrall head coach Taylor Harvison said. “I’m just excited for them. They deserve it. They’ve worked for it.”
The Bobcats couldn’t have scripted a better start. “Riding a wave of adrenaline, Sumrall dominated the first two sets, 25–20 and 25–13.
Sophomore outside hitter Rivers Dedeaux was unstoppable, pounding kills all through the first two sets. She recorded eight kills in the first set and six more in the second.
Harvison said that early surge was the product of both preparation and emotion.
“I think Monday’s game against Purvis in South State really prepared us for this,” Harvison said. “The first two sets, I think we were playing off adrenaline. That was our full potential right there.”
After dominating the first two sets, it looked as if Sumrall would cruise to their first ever state championship. In fact, Lafayette didn’t even have the lead until a 1-0 lead in the third set.
But as the match wore on, adrenaline faded, and the Lady Commodores showed why they were championship contenders. Lafayette tightened up defensively, turned back Sumrall’s attack at the net, and suddenly the tide turned. The Commodores took set three 25–20, then survived a back-and-forth fourth 25–22 to tie the match.
“We had to have next play mentality,” Dedeaux said. “Mistakes are going to happen, but there’s always another point to get. So, we tried really hard to not get down but also not get up”
For Harvison, none of it came as a surprise.
“They’ve gone to three sets, they’ve gone to five sets, and every time they push, even from behind, they put pressure on the other team,” Harvison said. “That’s how I try to coach them — just put pressure. The pressure got to us in those second two sets, but then they brought it back up, brought the energy back up.”
The fifth set was a whirlwind on heart stopping action. Both teams traded blows. Sumrall took a 13-10 lead, before Lafayette closed the gap at 14-13.
Then, Dedeaux delivered the game sealing kill, like she had done countless times in the game already.
“It’s an honor to be a part of the first team ever to be here,” Dedeaux said. “Our coach is always pushing us to be better, she’s great. She deserves this.”
Dedeaux’s performance gave her the MVP and capped a breakout season for the sophomore.
“Rivers is incredible,” Harvison said. “She definitely carried us in those last couple of sets. Natalie just knew — get Rivers the ball and she’s going to slam it. And she took care of it.”
Sumrall’s 24–5 season was built on depth and balance. The Bobcats weathered five-set matches all year, including their South State victory over Purvis earlier in the week — a win Harvison credited as the perfect rehearsal for the championship atmosphere.
But for Harvison, this is just the beginning.
“I told them this is our first, but it’s not our last,” Harvison said. “Our starters are young. Rivers is young. None of our starters are seniors, and so we’re bringing back the same team next year. So I’m ready. We’re ready.”
The final point will fade, but the memory of Sumrall’s first state title will last a lifetime.
