By Robert Wilson
In a rare regular season battle between two of the best high school volleyball programs in Mississippi – Brandon High from the MHSAA and Jackson Academy from the MAIS – it came down to a few points in the deciding fifth set.
Brandon scored eight of the final 12 points in the fifth set to defeat JA Tuesday night before an estimated 500 at Brandon’s gym.
Brandon – ranked No. 4 in Mississippi by MaxPreps – improved to 26-8. JA – ranked No. 6 in Mississippi by MaxPreps – dropped to 24-9-1.
JA defeated Brandon 2-1 Saturday in the Southern Classic and the two teams have played each other in many tournaments over the years, but it is the first time in several years that they have played in a regular season game.
Both teams are highly successful. Brandon has won four state championships in the past eight years. JA has won nine state titles in the past 11 years.
Brandon won the first two sets 29-27 and 25-23, but JA came back to win the next two sets 25-23 and 25-14 and had the momentum going into the final and fifth set.
JA led 9-7 and appeared to be on the verge of winning the fifth set when Brandon caught fire and went on a run. The set was tied at 11-11 and Brandon won four of the next six points to win the fifth set and game.
“JA went ahead of us 9-7, but we got a great pass from (senior) Katie Thornton, set from (senior) Mia Williams and a crucial kill down the line from (senior) Aubrey Dale,” Brandon coach Kelsa Walker said. “(Freshman) Lynnon Rhodes got on a run with an ace and a few serving points to get up 11-10. After some great defense on both sides, Aubrey picked up some big kills, mixing up her location. (JA junior and MaxPreps Preseason Mississippi Player of the Year and Preseason All-American) Carson (Caraway) got a couple of kills to make it 13-12. We were able to win a couple of long rallies for a 15-13 win. What a battle.”
The game also featured two of the most successful volleyball coaches in Mississippi.
Walker won her 347th game against 84 losses (an outstanding 80.5 percent winning percentage) along with four state titles, two state runner-up finishes and two state semifinal finishes in her 12 seasons at Brandon. She has led her teams to at least the semifinals in each of the past eight seasons. She won a school record 43 games in 2022, her last state title. Brandon finished 30-8 and reached the semifinals last season. Only once in her 12 seasons has Brandon lost more than eight games.
JA coach Melissa Denson has a 276-66 record (an outstanding 80.7 percent winning percentage) and five state titles and two state runner-up finishes in her eighth season at JA and a 315-93 record (a 77.2 percent winning percentage) in 10 career seasons, the first two at Clinton High. She led JA to a school record 43 victories in 2019 and has won 35 or more games five seasons at JA. JA finished 30-16-3 last season. Denson has coached three Mississippi Gatorade Players of the Year – Kaylee Lowther (2024), Lakin Laurendine, (2023 and 2022), and Parker Bracken (2021 and 2020), the only school in the country to win five consecutive state volleyball players of the year.
“We were grateful to have the opportunity to play Jackson Academy this season of the fact it was high level competition that we didn’t have to spend hours traveling to play,” Walker said. “Coach Denson does a great job developing her girls from middle school all the way up. It was a huge win for us to prepare us for our run in the playoffs in two weeks. There were a lot of next level players on both side of the net duking it out for five sets. It was super fun volleyball to watch and be a part of.”
“I am very thankful to have the opportunity to play Brandon and for them to host us,” Denson said. “I always want to play the best programs to challenge our girls to help us prepare for conference and state. Even though it didn’t land in our favor, I’m really proud of our girls for fighting back and not giving up after the first two sets were dropped. Every set we lost was extremely tight. Both teams battled and have a lot to be proud of. I love playing Brandon because it’s always extremely competitive but in a positive environment for both teams.”
Both teams have superb players.
Senior setter and Pearl River Community College commitment Mia Williams, senior outside hitter Aubrey Dale, junior middle blocker Zendeh Wyatt, sophomore pin hitter Skyler Boddy, freshman Libero Lynnon Rhodes, junior outside hitter Mauri Mills and senior defensive specialists Katie Thornton and Ivy Bankston are Brandon’s top players.
JA is led by 6-2 junior and MaxPreps Preseason Mississippi Player of the Year, Preseason All-American Carson Caraway, junior outside hitter Madelyn Rodrigue, junior setter Darby Horn, 6-2 sophomore middle blocker Kinsley Ables, and junior Libero Anna Holladay Craft.
“One of the things I love the most about last night is these girls know each other off the court and they genuinely cheer for each other on and off the court,” Walker said. “You saw there were times when one team won the point and the other team was like, ‘good job, girl,’ so that was pretty fun to see these girls not only compete at the level that they competed in but also celebrating each other. It was super fun competitive, health environment. It was an absolutely incredible night. A lot of these girls are teammates in the offseason in club.”
