2A Heavyweights Collide as Undefeated East Union Hosts Defending Champion Walnut

BLUE SPRINGS, Miss. — Sept. 1, 2026

Two of Mississippi’s best volleyball teams — regardless of classification — meet Tuesday night when East Union hosts Walnut in a matchup carrying considerably more weight than the words “non-region” might suggest.

East Union and Walnut are ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the Mississippi Sports Group Class 2A rankings, with the Urchins also holding the organization’s No. 1 overall ranking in Mississippi regardless of classification.

First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at East Union.

It is an early-season matchup between an East Union team that has been almost untouchable and the defending Class 2A state champion that ended the Urchins’ season a year ago.

East Union enters a perfect 19-0, while Walnut comes in 14-1 and riding a 14-match winning streak. Combined, the teams are 33-1 this season.

East Union has dominated nearly everyone

It is difficult to put together a cleaner first month than East Union has.

The Urchins have won 44 sets and lost only two through their first 19 matches. One set was dropped in a 2-1 win over Kossuth on Aug. 8 and the other in a 3-1 victory at Mooreville on Aug. 20. Every other East Union victory has been a sweep.

The schedule has hardly been empty, either.

East Union owns wins over Ingomar twice, New Albany twice, Saltillo twice, South Pontotoc twice, along with victories against Pine Grove, Belmont, Tishomingo County, Kossuth, Mooreville and Alcorn Central. The Urchins have won all nine of their home matches and all 10 on the road.

At the center of it has been junior outside hitter Ann Flemming LeFlore.

LeFlore has recorded 270 kills, averaging 5.9 kills per set, while hitting .343. She also has 126 digs and 30 service aces, giving East Union an elite six-rotation offensive weapon.

East Union has plenty behind her.

Senior Lily Kate Johnson, a 5-foot-11 opposite/middle blocker, has 90 kills and a team-leading 35 blocks, while junior Marley Clayton has added 83 kills. Sophomore Taylor LeFlore has 22 blocks and senior Lilly Mae Watson has 19.

The Urchins are equally dangerous from the service line and in the back row.

Junior libero Reagan Johnson leads the team with 45 aces and 253 digs, averaging 5.5 digs per set. Senior Lucy Cochran adds 75 digs and 20 aces.

East Union also spreads its setting workload between junior Lyla Brock, who has 231 assists, and senior Lilly Bruce, who has 160.

Walnut hasn’t lost since opening day

The Wildcats’ season began with a 2-1 loss to Booneville on Aug. 1.

They haven’t lost since.

Walnut has rattled off 14 consecutive victories, including wins over Corinth twice, New Albany, Pine Grove, Tupelo Christian Prep, Ingomar, Belmont twice, Biggersville twice, Ripley and Booneville.

Walnut has been particularly dominant lately.

After needing four sets to defeat Ingomar on Aug. 13, the Wildcats have won their last nine matches without dropping a set, including a 3-0 revenge win over Booneville and a 3-0 victory over Belmont in their two most recent matches.

Senior outside hitter Molly-Kate Rolison has been Walnut’s statistical centerpiece.

Through Walnut’s latest posted MaxPreps statistics, Rolison had 132 kills, averaging 3.7 per set while hitting .264. She also led the Wildcats with 120 digs and 25 aces.

Junior middle hitter Maddie Wilburn gives Walnut another major option at the net with 71 kills, 15 blocks and 18 aces, while senior outside hitter Taylor Garner has 55 kills.

Senior middle hitter Kayleigh Steele leads Walnut with 18 blocks.

Senior setter Vivian Brown has handled much of the Wildcats’ offense with 223 assists while also contributing 79 digs and 23 aces. Junior defensive specialist Brittan Dawkins has 99 digs and a team-leading 149 receptions.

Familiar opponents, similar results

The teams have already seen several of the same opponents, providing an interesting comparison.

Both have beaten Pine Grove, New Albany, Ingomar and Belmont.

East Union swept Pine Grove 2-0, beat New Albany twice by 2-0 scores, swept Ingomar twice and defeated Belmont 3-0.

Walnut defeated Pine Grove 3-0, needed five sets to get past New Albany 3-2, beat Ingomar 3-1 and has defeated Belmont twice without dropping a set.

The results help illustrate just how impressive East Union’s 19-0 start has been. But Walnut brings something into Blue Springs that no other opponent can: recent proof that it can beat the Urchins.

Last year’s meetings belong to Walnut

There will also be a revenge element Tuesday night.

Walnut defeated East Union twice in 2025.

The Wildcats swept the Urchins 3-0 during the regular season on Sept. 15. The teams met again in the Class 2A playoffs on Oct. 9, and Walnut won 3-1, taking the match 25-17, 18-25, 25-19 and 25-17.

That victory helped propel Walnut toward the Class 2A state championship, where the Wildcats eventually defeated Lake 3-1 to capture the 2025 title.

East Union enters Tuesday looking very different from the team Walnut eliminated.

Reagan Johnson, Lily Kate Johnson, Lyla Brock, Marley Clayton, Lilly Bruce, Lucy Cochran and several other members of this year’s unbeaten East Union team were on the roster for last season’s matchup, giving the Urchins plenty of familiarity with the Wildcats and the postseason loss.

The matchup

The most obvious battle will be whether Walnut can slow Ann Flemming LeFlore.

East Union has the state’s No. 1 ranking, an unbeaten record and one of Mississippi’s most productive attackers. Allowing LeFlore clean swings repeatedly could make for a long night for anybody.

Walnut’s answer is balance, experience and a group that has already proven itself on the biggest stage.

Rolison gives the Wildcats an experienced outside presence, Wilburn and Steele provide size in the middle, Brown directs the offense, and Dawkins gives Walnut another veteran presence defensively.

For East Union, Johnson’s defense could be every bit as important as LeFlore’s offense. Walnut will need to win long rallies and make the Urchins work for points; Johnson and the East Union back row have made that difficult throughout the first month of the season.

It is only Sept. 1, and neither team’s region championship will be decided Tuesday night.

But as measuring-stick matches go, there may not be a better one anywhere in Mississippi.

The defending Class 2A champion against the undefeated No. 1 team in the state.

Walnut’s 14-match winning streak against East Union’s perfect 19-0 record.

And potentially, a preview of something much bigger waiting later this fall.