SHS ready for Clinton in playoffs

Preparation for the Class 6A playoffs started early this week for the Starkville Lady Yellow Jackets.

Tonight's opponent in Clinton was one of the teams to hand Starkville one of its eight losses this season and head coach Sierra Horel did not want to wait until the last minute to get a jump on a plan of attack.

“We started getting ready (Monday) night,” Horel said. “Since we've seen them, we've gotten to see how they play and what we've been working on in practice is what we couldn't accomplish the last time we played them.”

The Lady Jackets dropped a two-set decision (25-27, 17-25) to Clinton at the Clinton Invitational earlier this season.

Horel said Clinton sports a talented outside hitter that SHS will have to defend against.

“She knows how to hit line and that's one of the things we are having a little trouble with right now,” Horel said. “When we were at the tournament, we were really tired. When we can get that upbeat tempo, that I know they can give, I really do think it will be a really good game.”

The Lady Jackets finished the regular season with a record of 26-8 overall, including a sweep of all six matches in Class 6A, Region 3. They defeated Greenville 3-0 at home on Tuesday night to ride into the playoffs with some momentum.

SHS senior Britney Gabbidon knows the team will have to turn the intensity up a notch now.

“We have to put 110 percent,” Gabbidon said. “I know in practice our coach is going to be really hard on us and we are just going to have to do our thing.”

The Lady Jackets host the Lady Arrows at 6 p.m. inside The Nest.