The Jackson Academy Lady Raiders volleyball team played the Madison-Ridgeland Academy Lady Patriots at the Raider Dome in Jackson, Miss., on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.

By Robert Wilson

       Madison-Ridgeland Academy’s volleyball team made school history almost a year ago to the day when the Lady Patriots defeated defending state champion Jackson Academy for the first time, ending the Lady Raiders’ streaks of 55 consecutive wins against MAIS competition and 43 straight wins against Mississippi teams (MAIS and MHSAA).

       MRA made history again Tuesday night when it defeated five-time defending MAIS Class 6A state champion JA 25-17, 18-25, 25-23 and 25-19 at JA, the first time MRA had ever won at JA in volleyball in school history, in a rematch of last year’s state championship before an estimated 450 at JA’s Raiderdome in Northeast Jackson.

       MRA improved to 13-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play. JA dropped to 9-1-3 and 1-1 in conference play.

       MRA coach Ross Dorr didn’t mention last year’s loss to JA in the state title match to his team but concentrated on talking to them about this season.

“Our philosophy this season was ‘on to the next play,’” said Dorr, who played basketball at MRA, Southern Miss and Delta State and is in his fourth season at MRA. “We are better when we don’t get in our heads, so we put last year to be and we are focusing on 24 as our run for the ‘ship. We built this team through all the trials of the previous seasons, but this season is all about getting better and smarter after every play to make the next play better.”

       MRA returns six of the seven starters off last year’s team, which finished with a school record 41 wins (with seven losses) and had a 30-match winning streak during the season. MRA fell just short of its first state volleyball title in school history, though. The Lady Patriots led 12-11 in the fifth set in the state championship match, but JA rallied to score five of the last six points to keep its state title string going. It was the closest state title match in the 12-year history of the event.

       But this is new year and Ross and his team have their sights set on the championship. Tuesday’s win proved they have what it takes to get it done. JA has won nine of the last 10 state championships and MRA wants to stop the dynasty from winning another one.

       “JA has a tremendous home court atmosphere, but we were able to spend a few days getting ready to play this game,” Dorr said. “Because of the program’s success against them at home last year, I think we were more mentally prepared for this game and were ready for the moment. You don’t beat JA unless you have firepower and tonight that firepower was senior and University of North Florida commitment Falon Humphries, who made her bid for consideration as one of the best players in Mississippi.” 

MRA’s top players are Humphries, 6-foot-5 sophomore middle blocker Alyssa Dampier (daughter of former Lawrence County High, Mississippi State and NBA basketball star Erick Dampier), juniors Chloe Carr, Selah Sandridge, Reese Roundtree and Lilly Sistrunk, and freshmen Emerson Dorr (Dorr’s daughter) and Ella Eatherly. 

       “JA is a great team, and we knew that we needed to play for each other and play for the Lord,” said Humphries, who will be joining her sister, Cameron, at North Florida. Cameron plays beach volleyball there. “I think we did just that tonight. This game mattered, but we need to stay focused and finish the season with a bang.”

       Meanwhile, JA lost six seniors – including Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year and Southern Miss signee Kaylee Lowther (JA’s fifth straight Gatorade POY) – to graduation from last year’s 35-13 team, which was 18-1 against MAIS teams.

       JA’s top returning starters this season are 6-foot-3 sophomore outside hitter and MaxPreps and vballrecruiter.com All-American Carson Caraway and 6-1 senior middle hitter and Southern Miss commitment Sophia Sosa.

       JA suffered some growing pains Tuesday.

       “We made too many errors from the service line and attacking,” said JA coach Melissa Denson, who has a 231-42 record in her seventh season at JA and a 270-69 record in nine career seasons, the first two at Clinton High. “Our passers did a great job to keep us in system and we couldn’t capitalize. MRA played well and took care of their end of the court. We are young but will learn from this and move forward. A loss early in the season isn’t a bad thing. It’s a lesson.”