Ridgeland spikers looking to take next step

After making the Class AAAA state playoffs without a single senior on the roster last fall, the Ridgeland Lady Panthers are a year older, a year wiser, and ready to try and take that next step toward getting back to the top of the heap in Region 7-AAAA.

Head coach April Lemonds said that all the experience her players have gained over the past few years is a definite strength going into the 2021 campaign.

“Most of the girls that are going to be on that court have at least three years’ experience on varsity,” she began. “Several of them have two (years), but most all of them have played in some bigtime games.

“We even pulled up some of them up from the junior varsity last year to go with us to Marist (for the state tournament), so they know what it’s like once you make it into the postseason as opposed to the regular season.”

Among the seasoned veterans returning to the floor for the Lady Panthers are seniors Asia Silmon and Bailey Fowler.

Silmon, a first team All-Region selection last year, is one of the team’s most versatile athletes and equally adept as a setter or as a right-side hitter. Lemonds said Silmon would likely play both spots depending on what offense the team is running at the time.

Meanwhile, Fowler, another solid allaround player, will handle the libero position in her final year with the club and will bring a steadying presence to the Lady Panthers’ back line.

There is plenty of offensive firepower in the junior class where Koda O’Dell and Natalee McClain will bring the hammers from the outside. McClain can also play defense if the situation calls for it. Rightside hitters Brylee Benson and Ivey Stargel look primed for breakout years, as does middle hitter Meagan Cordova. On defense, Madison Lennon is a new face to volleyball, but already an accomplished prep athlete in both basketball and track.

The roster is rounded out by middle hitter Cecilia Davenport, a sophomore, who became one of the Lady Panthers’ go-to hitters as a freshman.

The coaching staff will be filled out by Mia Clark,

Mary Brittingham and Phil Morton.

Lemonds said that her team and the rest of 7-AAAA would still be chasing two teams in particular in the race for the region crown.

“It’s hard to know about everyone else right now, but Heritage and Northwest are always so good,” she explained. “You always know you have to gun for those guys if you want to come out on top.”

She added that a main key for her team to get into

the region mix is just to be able to work together.

“They all know that each of them will play a vital role and that everybody will have to contribute for us to be successful,” she said. “I think we’re starting to mesh together already.

“It seems like, this year, with a smaller group and being around each other more, they’ve been able to get to know each other better and they’re starting to communicate better for sure.”