The Northwest Mississippi Community College volleyball team improved its season record to 18-0 with four straight wins at the Wallace State Community College Invitational over the weekend. The Rangers swept Lawson State, Northwest Shoals, Roane State, and Wallace State, marking their first victory over Wallace State in program history.
Head Coach Allison Burchyett praised her team for their performance. “I’m just proud of each and every young lady in our program,” she said. “This was a program win. We are taking it one game at a time and enjoying the moment.” The win over Wallace State was a key milestone, as the team continues to push for a spot in the NJCAA Division II rankings. Northwest finished the week with a set record of 54-1.
In the opening match, Northwest defeated Lawson State 3-0, hitting .387 with 13 aces. Sofia Gonzalez and Ariana Woods each recorded nine kills, with Gonzalez hitting .750 on 12 attacks. Chloe Rodriguez dished out 23 assists, and Dallas White led the serving attack with five aces.
The team continued their winning streak with a 3-0 sweep of Northwest Shoals, led by strong performances from Hurdle, Gonzalez, and Woods, each with 10 kills. Northwest committed only 11 errors in the match, and Adalyn Callahan contributed four aces. Rodriguez again led in assists with 21, and the defense was anchored by Gonzalez and Jania Rose, each with eight digs.
The Rangers also defeated Roane State 3-0, with Hurdle and Gonzalez both recording nine kills on perfect hitting. Rodriguez maintained her consistency with 21 assists, and Woods added five aces and five blocks. Defensively, Rose led with nine digs, and the team totaled 49 digs overall.
The final match of the tournament saw Northwest beat Wallace State 3-0, with Hurdle leading in kills with 10. Gonzalez and Woods added seven each, and Rodriguez had 17 assists. The team’s serving was strong with eight aces, and Woods contributed three blocks. The victory marked the team’s fourth straight sweep, and the first time they defeated Wallace State in program history.
The team returns home to Howard Coliseum for a conference matchup against Jones College, ranked No. 24 nationally. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. with free admission. Coach Rodriguez emphasized the importance of humility and focus moving forward. “As long as we stay humble and focus on our game, we can keep this momentum,” she said.
