Seven players who helped build the Middleton High School Lady Tigers volleyball program were honored Thursday, Oct. 1, at Middleton volleyball senior night, as the team recognized its Class of 2027 in front of family, friends and classmates.
Several of the seniors have played together since middle school, and three of them have spent seven years in the program, according to The Magnolia Post, which covered the ceremony.
Seniors Honored at Middleton Volleyball Senior Night
The Lady Tigers recognized these seniors:
Taylor Hammons (No. 2), three years with the program
Brianna Harris (No. 17), seven years
Molly Kate Hobbs (No. 20), libero, six years
Emma Howell (No. 28), setter, six years
Brooklyn Kissinger (No. 3), two years with the team, working stats
Macee Mitchell (No. 24), outside hitter, seven years
Brooklyn Webb (No. 16), middle blocker, seven years
Coach Zeke Craft Praises the Class
Head coach Zeke Craft praised the group’s character as well as its play. He called the seniors “great role models for their teammates and school” and said he has enjoyed coaching them.
The seniors also shared favorite memories. Harris recalled that when the group was in eighth grade, other teams scheduled them for their own recognition nights expecting an easy win, and the Middleton players beat them anyway. Hobbs remembered the whole team coming to her house to spend time together after a tough sub-state loss last season. Kissinger said she valued being welcomed onto the team, and Webb pointed to a lighthearted tug-of-war moment at volleyball camp.
A Program Built Over Years
Senior nights at small schools like Middleton often honor players who have grown up in the program together, and this class fits that pattern. With four of the seven seniors spending at least six years on the court for the Lady Tigers, the group has been a steady presence for Middleton volleyball since junior high.
The class covers nearly every spot on the floor. The setter runs the offense and decides who gets the ball on each attack. The libero, who wears a different-colored jersey, specializes in passing and back-row defense. Outside hitters handle many of the team’s attacks, and middle blockers anchor the defense at the net. Off the court, keeping stats gives coaches the numbers they use to adjust from match to match.
Middleton, in Hardeman County, sits just across the state line from Walnut. Congratulations to the Middleton seniors and their families on the milestone.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
