By Brad Greer

South Panola High School co-head volleyball coach Allison James does not hesitate when asked about the lettering “ASAP“  that’s on the back of each of her players’  jerseys.

“It means Any Squad Any Place. We’re just trying to instill into our girls that it doesn’t matter who we play as long as we play as a unit we will play at our best level possible,” said James, who along with her husband Michael is in her first year as the Tigers’ co-head coach.

The Lady Tigers are coming off a 8-12 campaign in 2108 and will be competing in the new-formed Region 3-6A district with Germantown, Greenville and Starkville.

The South Panola spikers will open their season Sept. 15  at Clarksdale High School with the first home match set for Sept. 22 against Water Valley High School.

Having lost three seniors from last year’s squad,South Panola returns a strong nucleus this season with five seniors.

Senior setters Tedderra Patton is back along with Sara Cantu. Nahriah Conner and Comiah Bryant will also play key roles. Both are also members of the Lady Tiger basketball team.

“One thing we like about this team is they are very athletic. Even the newcomers we have seem to be picking up things quickly plus as a whole they have a good volleyball IQ. The one thing we are trying to instill in them is the winning aspect not just to show up and play. Coach (Lisa) Lewis did a great job in laying a foundation and we’re just trying to build off that,” James said.

South Panola has never made a post season appearance in volleyball, so that’s a main goal for the Tigers, the new coach said.

In addition to Patton, Bryant and Cantu, two other seniors – Sara Boyett and Sierra Mitchell – are on the roster and will contribute.

Juniors are McGheyla Patton, Sarah Hentz, Kaylyn Cheek, Brinley Locke, Tristan Goddard and Gracie Burchfield.