Ripley volleyball is a region champion again. The Ripley High School Lady Tigers swept Senatobia on Tuesday night, Sept. 29, to finish district play a perfect 6-0 and clinch the Region 3-4A title for the second straight season, according to Tippah County Sports. The win also locks up a No. 1 seed for the Lady Tigers in the upcoming MHSAA Class 4A playoffs.
Tippah County Sports congratulated the team and coach Julianna Potts in a post Tuesday night, noting that the region crown is the program’s second in a row. The victory evened Ripley’s overall record at 14-14.
How Ripley Volleyball Ran the Table in Region 3-4A
Ripley’s overall record doesn’t tell the full story of its season. The Lady Tigers played a demanding non-district schedule against programs from across north Mississippi, including Oxford, New Albany, Caledonia, Kossuth, Tishomingo County, Booneville, Pontotoc and Neshoba Central, along with county matchups against Walnut and Falkner.
Region play has been a different story. Ripley had not dropped a district match all season, and every district win reported earlier this month came in straight sets. Tuesday’s sweep of Senatobia matched the 3-0 home win over Senatobia on Sept. 21 and completed the district slate without a loss.
Here’s a quick look at where the Lady Tigers stand:
Region 3-4A: 6-0, region champions for the second year in a row
Overall: 14-14
Clinching win: a sweep of Senatobia on Tuesday, Sept. 29
Playoff outlook: a No. 1 seed in the Class 4A playoffs
What a No. 1 Seed Means in the Class 4A Playoffs
A top seed usually means home-court advantage in the early rounds of the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) bracket. That gives Ripley fans a chance to pack the gym and back the Lady Tigers on their own floor. The MHSAA will release the Class 4A bracket, with matchups and dates, once regular-season and region play wraps up across the state.
Ripley will also bring some recent battle-testing into the postseason. The Lady Tigers faced Walnut twice in the past week, and Walnut’s winning streak stretched to eight matches after a sweep of Ripley on Monday. Those matches against one of the area’s hottest teams should help prepare Ripley for the playoff level of competition ahead.
A Strong Fall for Tippah County Volleyball
The Region 3-4A title adds to a strong fall for volleyball in Tippah County. Walnut captured its third straight Tippah County Tournament championship last weekend and has now won eight straight matches. With Ripley now holding a top seed, the county could have several teams making noise when the playoffs begin.
Tippah News will share bracket details and playoff schedules as they are announced. Congratulations to the Lady Tigers, coach Potts and the Ripley volleyball program on another region championship.
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
