In its second year with a volleyball team, Kosciusko should be considered the favorite in Region 4-3A.
The Lady Whippets went 8-6 a year ago to finish second behind Lanier in the region. But Lanier will not be fielding a team this year because Jackson Public Schools has decided to not play sports in the fall due to the pandemic.
That leaves Kosciusko, Louisville and Yazoo City in 4-3A. Kosciusko played both twice a year ago and won all four matches, including three sweeps.
First-year coach Nikki Stephenson agrees that her team should be the favorite, and she feels the team will be improved with a season under their belts. “A lot of them feel more comfortable playing this year,” she said.
Key players include seniors Lauren Nowell, Emma Rush and Kelly Hood, junior Elizabeth Jones and eighth graders Makynlee Dickerson and Mary Kimble Price.
Nowell was one of the team leaders a year ago with 70 kills, 59 digs, 44 service points, 11 assists and five blocks. “She's going to be very important to us this year,” Stephenson said.
Rush led the team in digs with 140. “Even though she is small, she is a great player on the back line.”
Stephenson complimented Hood for her hustling. “I can put her anywhere on the court and she will do what I ask her to do.”
Jones, a great player according to her coach, will play center this year. She had 71 digs, 30 assists and 24 kills last year.
Dickinson and Price both saw considerable action as seventh graders. Dickinson will be the libero, a defensive specialist. “She can go anywhere I ask her to go,” Stephenson said.
Price is the team's best server. “I'm training her to be a center and she's doing great at that,” Stephenson said. Price had 28 service points a year ago.
“Communicating and trusting each other are going to be our key things,” Stephenson said.
She has installed a new defense. “It's a lot different from last year. They're getting it and getting better every day.”
Kosciusko was scheduled to open the season against Lanier Aug. 27. Stephenson is attempting to line up a substitute game. The first scheduled match is at Starkville Aug. 31. The first scheduled home game is Sept. 3 against Louisville.
In addition to the two matches with Lanier, a match with Greenwood was also wiped out because that school will not be playing fall sports.
