Photo by Chris Todd

By Robert Wilson

       The volleyball dynasty on Sheffield Drive in Northeast Jackson – otherwise known as Jackson Academy – lost six seniors to graduation after winning its fifth consecutive MAIS Division I state championship and ninth of the last 10 years this past season.

       Look for JA to challenge for its sixth straight state titles despite the Lady Raiders being in a youth movement this season.

       Even after losing those six seniors – including Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year and Southern Miss signee Kaylee Lowther – JA has plenty of talent.

       That talent showed Monday night as JA rolled to its sixth win without a loss with a 25-6, 25-5, and 25-10 victory over Madison St. Joseph in a Class 6A conference opener for both teams at St. Joe in Madison.

       JA won its 14th consecutive and 69th of the last 70 MAIS matches. Madison-Ridgeland Academy – which lost in five sets to JA in last year’s state title match – defeated JA last August to stop a 55-match streak vs. MAIS teams.

       JA’s returning starters this season are 6-foot-3 sophomore outside hitter and MaxPreps and vballrecruiter.com All-American Carson Caraway, 6-1 senior middle hitter and Southern Miss commitment Sophia Sosa, 5-6 junior setter Keira Hariel, 6-2 senior opposite middle blocker Ava McManus and 5-9 opposite middle blocker Sarah Breyden Moulder.

       New starters are sophomore Libero Anna Holladay Craft, sophomore outside hitter Madelyn Rodrique, sophomore setter Darby Horn, freshman middle blocker Kinsley Ables and junior outside hitter-opposite middle blocker Justina Viagarra.

       Other key players are senior defensive specialist Brooke Dennis, junior defensive specialist and Germantown transfer Carli Grace Criddle, junior defensive specialist Evey Sutton, junior opposite middle blocker Sadie Williamson, freshman setter Lillie Henson, and sophomore setter Sarah Yung. 

“I am really excited about this team,” said JA coach Melissa Denson, who has a 228-41 record in her seventh season at JA and a 267-68 record in nine career seasons, the first two at Clinton High. “The depth on the bench is great. I have several girls who can fill multiple roles when needed, which is nice for how many games we play. Carson has the ability to take over a game offensively. She has a high volleyball IQ and is quick on and off the net. Kinsley saw a good amount of court time last year when players were out with injury or illness. She is a great blocker and adds another option offensively for us. Our team is young, but extremely talented. We’ve had a great summer of training and growing together. We opened our season Friday with wins over Lamar, Pillow, and Jackson Prep. We traveled to Briarcrest and Houston (in the Memphis area) Saturday to play against high level teams and I was excited to see our pieces starting to come together. Everyone on this team adds value and I love that they push each other and challenge each other every day. This group truly loves each other and they’re selfless. They’re willing to do what it takes to get better.”

“I’m really looking forward to this season,” Caraway said. “We’re a very young team, but everyone steps up and does their job. We all trust each other to do what we need to do. We have really good team chemistry and have great leadership from our seniors. We’re all super close, and we love to celebrate each others’ accomplishments. We’re not afraid to step up to a challenge, and we love to compete. There’s a lot of talent throughout the team and everyone brings something to the table.”