ICC volleyball looks to take the next step in 2024

FULTON, Miss. – Last season, Itawamba Community College's volleyball program finished 15-19 overall and 2-4 in MACCC play as well as made an appearance in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament. This year, the Indians look to make even further strides on the court.

No Time Wasted in Preseason

The ICC volleyball team's first practice of the season was Aug. 1, and head coach Annie McGregor says the team has wasted no time preparing for the 2024 campaign.

"We have two-to-three practices a day," McGregor said. "We have training in the weight room, conditioning and jump training. Then we also have classroom sessions, team bonding, then meals and breaks, believe it or not, through all of that. So it's been jam-packed. But these girls have bought into what we're trying to do this year, and they have all been working super hard. I can't tell you how impressed I am with the whole group."

The Indians will play their lone preseason match Aug. 20 at Champions Christian College.

A Perfect Freshman-Sophomore Balance

McGregor has eight freshmen and eight sophomores on her 2024 team. She also discussed how important that balance between the two classes is for her squad. "We have a 16-player roster this year, and that is exactly the right number for scrimmaging to be successful," McGregor noted. "We do a 'big sis, little sis' with our team, and so it's been a really good balance as far as them mentoring each other, being there for each other and continuing to push each other."

Players Stepping Up and Standing Out

The Indians bring back Bree Lyons (Oxford), who averaged a team-best 2.49 kills per set last season as well as Kensley Woolbright (Columbus), who posted 4.30 digs per set. Madasen McCaig (Belmont), Ashelyn Isbell (Corinth), Kendall Finimore (Lewisburg), Sadie Stegall (Pontotoc) and Presley Jones (Killen, Ala.) are expected to build off their experience from last year. 

McGregor said that Lyons, Jones and Woolbright were all voted team captains last week, and she expects good things from their leadership. "Those three are our leadership team, so we expect a lot from them on the court but also in our locker room as well," McGregor added.

The Indians added the program's first reverse transfer in Lexi Pendleton (Germantown, Tenn.), who played her freshman season at the University of North Alabama. "We expect some big things out of Lexi this year," McGregor said. "She'll be an outside hitter, setter, opposite hitter, so she's pretty much a jack-of-all-trades."

McGregor's eight freshmen include Wiselee Collier (Caledonia); Allie Grace Kirkland (Corinth); McLaine Dorr (Gluckstadt); Michael Ann East (Oxford); Leanna Reeves (Pontotoc); Natalie Nix, Kaydee Vaughn (both of Florence, Ala.) and Kylie Graham (Moulton, Ala.). They will all look to quickly adjust to the collegiate level of play and contribute this season.

Schedule Breakdown

The Indians will host 12 home matches this season, including five MACCC matchups against Meridian (Sept. 23 at 5 p.m.), Northeast (Sept. 25 at 6 p.m.), Northwest (Oct. 16 at 6 p.m.), Jones (Oct. 21 at 5 p.m.) and Pearl River (Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.). Other home matches include Chattanooga State (Aug. 23 at 2 p.m.), Calhoun (Aug. 23 at 6 p.m.), Shawnee (Sept. 13 at 3 p.m.), Gadsden State (Sept. 27 at 4 p.m.), Pellissippi State (Oct. 4 at 2 p.m.), Rust College (Oct. 4 at 6 p.m.) and Bevill State (Oct. 29 at 5 p.m.). Conference road matches include Northwest (Sept. 30 at 6 p.m.), Jones (Oct. 2 at 5 p.m.), Pearl River (Oct. 7 at 5 p.m.), Meridian (Oct. 9 at 5 p.m.) and Northeast (Oct. 14 at 6 p.m.) All home matches are scheduled to be streamed on LetsGoICCTV.com.