STARKVILLE — During the bus ride back from a tournament in Clinton over the weekend, Starkville volleyball coach Sierra Horel called a team meeting.
The Yellow Jackets won a district title nearly two weeks ago with a road win at Germantown, and Horel wanted the team to finish its season strong.
“I think it solidified, “Wow, we really are district champs, so we’ve gotta live up to that,'” Horel said.
On Monday against Choctaw County, Starkville did exactly what its coach asked for.
The Yellow Jackets outclassed the Chargers throughout, earning a 25-11, 25-10, 25-17 sweep in their second-to-last regular-season match. Even a sloppy third set couldn’t dampen Horel’s enthusiasm.
“Yes, we had some mistakes, but they were happy, and that’s what I’m not used to seeing from them,” Horel said. “Even if they did make mistakes, they were still happy, and they still played it out.”
That happiness was contagious on the Jackets’ side of the court — perhaps too much in the third set. Smiling teammates occasionally had to snap out of conversation when a serve came in from across the court, and the team mis-hit more balls than in either of the first two sets.
“We get too caught up in the moment, trying to have fun,” junior middle blocker Jakailyn Brown said.
Horel will take that from Brown, who had an excellent match as she prepares to step into a leadership role next season.
“She was definitely trying something new tonight, and I could see it,” Horel said. With her hits, the way she was hitting, the way that she wouldn’t get mad. I’m not used to seeing her doing that.”
Brown said her team executed the game plan Horel drew up — running a lot of set plays and jumping on top early. The goal was to avoid giving the Chargers easy points, something Brown admitted they did poorly in the third set.
The blowout match was nearly the opposite of a key match the Yellow Jackets had Saturday against Clinton, the team they’ll see in the first round of the playoffs on Oct. 17 in Starkville. Starkville, tired from competition earlier that day, lost the best-of-three match in two tightly contested sets.
That close match ensured the Jackets all know what they’re capable of when district play comes.
“We were ready for them, and I think that turns them out a little bit more on how much these girls want it,” Horel said.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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