Lady Rangers Capture MACCC Championship on Sophomore Night

SENATOBIA - In front of the largest, loudest crowd of the season at Howard Coliseum on Wednesday evening, the Northwest volleyball program captured its first MACCC Championship with a 3-0 shutout win against Northeast.

With the win and Itawamba's loss to Pearl River, the Lady Rangers captured the outright conference title, the first of the MACCC era. Northwest previously captured the 2022 NJCAA Region 23 Play-In Championship prior to the conference adding volleyball as a sanctioned sport.

Northwest also celebrated Sophomore Night prior to the contest, honoring Kaya Coleman, Layla Dyer, Ally Grimes, Anna Lott, Rachel Stegall and Abbey Swift. The Rangers improved to 24-8 on the season and 8-2 in the MACCC with the victory, finishing with 20-plus wins for the second consecutive season.

Northwest led 6-2 early in the opening set, but both teams traded blows throughout the rest of the way. Northeast fought back to tie the set several times, including as late as 23-23, before the Lady Rangers captured the final two points to earn the 1-0 match lead.

An early 4-1 lead in the second set turned into a massive 12-2 advantage in favor of Northwest, but the Lady Tigers fought back quickly, closing the gap to 12-7. Northeast would inch within two points midway through the set, but the Lady Rangers built a run and pulled back ahead, 20-14, before closing out the second set with a 25-16 decision.

Northwest led 9-5 early in the third set, but the visiting Lady Tigers had no interest in folding. Though the Lady Rangers led for the duration of the set, Northeast made the home team work for the clinching points, keeping things relatively close. Eventually, Northwest gained enough separation down the stretch, pulling away for the 25-18 decision.

Stegall led the Lady Rangers in both kills (13) and service aces (5), while Maddie Smith and Coleman added 12 and seven kills, respectively. Dyer led Northwest with 35 assists, as Grimes, Stegall and Swift all finished with a team-high nine digs apiece.

Freshman Claire Roberts led the Lady Rangers with two blocks apiece, followed by one each from Lott and Stegall.

Irby Norris led Northeast with 13 kills, followed by nine from Ava Siegel. Marissa Morris paced the Lady Tigers with three service aces, while Sophie Johnson provided 21 assists.

Additionally, Siegel and Avery Thomas had 10 digs apiece to lead Northeast in that category.

Northwest will play host to the MACCC/Region 23 Tournament from November 1-2 at Howard Coliseum. More details about the tournament format, including ticketing and broadcast coverage, will be announced in the coming days.

About the MACCC

The Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC)  is one of the premier community college conferences in the country and ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of alumni on professional sports teams. 

Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer and tennis.  

Women's competition is offered in the sports of basketball, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. 

Follow the MACCC

For complete coverage of the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference, please follow the MACCC on social media at @MACCCAthletics (Threads), @MACCCAthletics (Facebook), and @MACCCAthletics (Instagram) or visit the official website,  www.MACCCAthletics.com.