Lady Vols win, and have fun going about it

It doesn't take long to realize, if very much time is spent around the Starkville Academy girls soccer team, that they enjoy being around each other and what they are doing on the field.

That was on display once again on Tuesday night at the Starkville Sportsplex as the Lady Volunteers soundly defeated Bayou Academy 8-0 in the MPSA Division III playoffs.

In his first season with the program, SA soccer coach Matt Sykes has his team through to the second round of the postseason.

"It's been incredible," Sykes said. "I don't think I could have asked for a better group of girls to coach, especially since they are so fun to coach. They always want to get better, but also have fun with the same mentality."

The Lady Vols have played as well as any squad in the state and they are only two wins away from claiming a state championship.

On Thursday, Starkville Academy hosts Indianola Academy, a team it has already beaten this season. With a win there, the Lady Vols advance to the state title match on Monday.

The record for SA is 111-1 now and it's hard to recall another soccer team around here having that kind of mark at this point of the season. It's a credit to what Sykes and the Lady Vols have been able to do.

Starkville Academy has a strong unit of seniors with Sydney Passons, Shelton Spivey, Hannah Cuevas,

Savannah Buford, Hays Miller, Bonner Hughes and Lauren Lyle. Some of these girls play multiple sports so they know what competition is like and don't shy away from it.

When the Lady Vols hit the soccer field, there's just something a little different about it.

They really seem to love what's taking place. Of course winning leads to much of that, but it's nice to see the smiles that produces.

"It's the most fun team I've ever been on," Passons said.

If you haven't been out to the Starkville Sportsplex to see Starkville Academy in action, you have at least one more chance to do so on Thursday.

You might just find out why everyone out

there is so happy.