Volleyball has advanced in the 5A playoffs after sweeping Saltillo in the first round. Set scores were 25-14, 25-7, 25-7.

“We got to second round so we travel to Cleveland Central, and if we win that that’s when we go to Starkville for the semi-finals,” coach Robbie Veazey said after the Mustangs won the Oct. 17 playoff match against the Tigers by a score of 3-0.

Veazey said the Wolves have a different playing style and will have the home court advantage Oct. 22, so her team will have to be ready. 

“We know that they are a solid team,” Veazey said. “They play a little bit different than us so we’ve got to be very focused. They play a lot slower pace game and we play a lot quicker tempo, and that’s why it’s very important that we stay in our game and not get pulled into the slow style.”

Now 14-16 overall, the Mustangs are 4-1 in district play and district champs. Libero Anna Jernigan described her senior season as “way more intense” than previous years.

To prepare for Cleveland Central and what else may lie ahead, the team has focused on conditioning and speed, outside hitter Lydia Walker said.

“We’ve been doing a lot of conditioning lately to get us in shape for long sets that we might have to play, and then we are doing really high intense game speed drills,” the senior said. “We have a goal to get somewhere and we are super close so we’re super excited.”